In 1980, with Crystals being just a few months old, the chorus went to watch their first national convention which was held at Owens Park, Manchester.  The songs, singing and ‘the moves’ were so impressive, and oh my, how the outfits amused everyone!  

 

The following year - 1981 – convention was held again at Owens Park again and Crystals were thrilled to be asked to mic warm and went along for the day. It was a very exciting experience, but so much happening with the stage outfits (orange crimplene!!!!), being the first time on stage, etc. it all passed by in a haze of activity.

 

At that time, national conventions were very different to what we experience today.  They were held in university campuses, and the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers (LABBS), our national organisation, organised the rooms and put choruses together in resident blocks.  All that was needed from choruses was to say how many members were going and pay their money. In those days, all meals were included in the package, so no cooking, instead there was plentiful queuing in the refectory singing songs with anybody who knew the words and notes - it was all so new and thrilling.

 

A fair number of the chorus at the time were stay at home Mums including two of the founder members; Adrienne Brooks had three children ages 3,5 and 7, Sue Livesey had three as well, aged 4,6 and 8.  The thought of leaving their broods with unsuspecting husbands was very worrying for them! But undeterred and fired with enthusiasm for their new hobby, on the Friday of convention in 1982, after making sure the children were in school, they rushed to board the coach.  Loaded with dress bags and carrier bags clinking with ‘something for the room’ (nothing changes there!) and so giddy and excited, singing and rehearsing along the way.  It felt wonderful to be stepping into the unknown.

 

As well as competing, there were shows on Friday and Saturday nights plus an ad hoc show on Sunday morning. The afterglows were fabulous and when they closed the bar at midnight, Crystals went looking for anybody else to sing with.  They had no shame – sing with the White Rosettes? No problem!  There was little time for sleeping, there were groups singing all over the campus and this hungry group of women went hunting to join in wherever they could.  Winning medals – they did not care!  

 

Before they could catch their breath, it was time to go home; unsurprisingly the return coach was a lot quieter. It was time to be reunited with families and children, who had probably not washed all weekend and had eaten fish and chips 3 nights running! Their weekend of freedom was over – until the next time!

 

These wonderful women describe those early conventions as making them feel like they were innocents abroad.  45 years on and it still feels like yesterday to those who went. It will surely be that today’s new ladies will remember their own first convention with just the same clarity and fondness.

 

“Our eyes had been opened, thank you Crystal Chords” 

(Sue Livesey, founder member of Crystal Chords and former Chair of LABBS)