2025
2025
And so the curtain comes down on another year: fast away the old year passes, as they say.
Preparing this report for the website is the perfect excuse to sit down after the mayhem of the festive season, preferably with a cheeky glass of wine, and quietly reflect on our activities, achievements, highs and lows: often it’s only in so doing that one realises just how much has happened in the previous 12 months.
To sum up:- we had 42 rehearsals; welcomed 11 new members – 6 of whom were men, meaning men now make up a third of the Choir; undertook 5 concerts / appearances; attended 2 Macmillan Health & Wellbeing Events; organised 2 social gatherings; had 1 Workshop with a complimentary supper, thanks to Susan’s legacy and held 1 Sing With Us event. We were featured on BBC North West Tonight to mark World Cancer Day: joined Instagram – please follow us @boltoncancervoices – if you aren’t already doing so: and were utterly staggered and thrilled to
receive a kind donation of beautiful products courtesy of Cowshed; meaning everyone got a gorgeous goodie bag with plenty left to enable us to make up some stunning raffle prizes.
And on top of all of this, our Founder & Chair – Karen – only went and won BBC Radio Manchester’s Volunteer Award in their annual Make A Difference Awards: the Award celebrating an individual who makes a noticeable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help others.
2025 saw us sharing a stage with Bolton Caledonia Pipe Band / the CC Concert Band and the Cottontown Chorus and supporting causes including Bolton Hospice / Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.t .
All of the above is only made possible thanks to the dedication and hard work of our musical team of Katie – Musical Director and Stephen – Accompanist and each and every one of our wonderful members, who bring the Choir to life and give it meaning.
The year marked another change for us, as we sadly bade ‘farewell’ to our long-serving Treasurer – Emma, who has held this vital role since 2017, contributing much to the life of the Choir: we are truly indebted to her for the diligent, enthusiastic and supportive way in which she’s applied her skills for the betterment of the Choir and the endless time she’s so generously given us.
With the close of one chapter, another opened and we welcomed Liz into the role: an induction by fire, if ever there was one, as our Christmas concert was looming large and the Treasurer is the nominated person for all matters front of house; but she hit the ground running and took everything in her stride. We’re so incredibly fortunate to have volunteers of such calibre supporting us.
In order to run the Choir, which resolutely remains free of charge and pays for as much as possible for people, despite the constant challenges, we rely on fundraising and donations. Hence this year we established a small Working Party to focus on community fundraising and increase awareness of the Choir across the region to attract new members. The group worked really hard on their first event – a Craft & Gift Stall, at Bolton Hospice Christmas Fair held in the Albert halls, Bolton. Lots of members got involved either making things or contributing materials, with the event proving to be a great learning experience.
This year we were hugely privileged and profoundly moved to receive our first ever legacy from Susan – a former member and stalwart supporter of all things Bolton Cancer Voices. It’s our intention to try and ensure this is used in pursuit of special moments and precious memories. We were humbled to see donations through our Just Giving Page all but smash the cost of our Accompanist for the year and our involvement in Turton Rotary Club’s Annual Duck Race made a further nice deposit in our ever-hungry bank account: with the Wee Jar initiative and various other ad-hoc activities playing their part too. We are as always, deeply indebted to all who so generously support us in whatever way: we couldn’t do what we do, in the way that we do it, without you!
Cheers: here’s to the next chapter in our ever-unfolding story.
2025
2025
And so the curtain comes down on another year: fast away the old year passes, as they say.
Preparing this report for the website is the perfect excuse to sit down after the mayhem of the festive season, preferably with a cheeky glass of wine, and quietly reflect on our activities, achievements, highs and lows: often it’s only in so doing that one realises just how much has happened in the previous 12 months.
To sum up:- we had 42 rehearsals; welcomed 11 new members – 6 of whom were men, meaning men now make up a third of the Choir; undertook 5 concerts / appearances; attended 2 Macmillan Health & Wellbeing Events; organised 2 social gatherings; had 1 Workshop with a complimentary supper, thanks to Susan’s legacy and held 1 Sing With Us event. We were featured on BBC North West Tonight to mark World Cancer Day: joined Instagram – please follow us @boltoncancervoices – if you aren’t already doing so: and were utterly staggered and thrilled to receive a kind donation of beautiful products courtesy of Cowshed; meaning everyone got a gorgeous goodie bag with plenty left to enable us to make up some stunning raffle prizes.
And on top of all of this, our Founder & Chair – Karen – only went and won BBC Radio Manchester’s Volunteer Award in their annual Make A Difference Awards: the Award celebrating an individual who makes a noticeable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help others.
2025 saw us sharing a stage with Bolton Caledonia Pipe Band / the CC Concert Band and the Cottontown Chorus and supporting causes including Bolton Hospice / Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support. .
All of the above is only made possible thanks to the dedication and hard work of our musical team of Katie – Musical Director and Stephen – Accompanist and each and every one of our wonderful members, who bring the Choir to life and give it meaning.
The year marked another change for us, as we sadly bade ‘farewell’ to our long-serving Treasurer – Emma, who has held this vital role since 2017, contributing much to the life of the Choir: we are truly indebted to her for the diligent, enthusiastic and supportive way
in which she’s applied her skills for the betterment of the Choir and the endless time she’s so generously given us.
With the close of one chapter, another opened and we welcomed Liz into the role: an induction by fire, if ever there was one, as our Christmas concert was looming large and the Treasurer is the nominated person for all matters front of house; but she hit the ground running and took everything in her stride. We’re so incredibly fortunate to have volunteers of such calibre supporting us.
In order to run the Choir, which resolutely remains free of charge and pays for as much as possible for people, despite the constant challenges, we rely on fundraising and donations. Hence this year we established a small Working Party to focus on community fundraising and increase awareness of the Choir across the region to attract new members. The group worked really hard on their first event – a Craft & Gift Stall, at Bolton Hospice Christmas Fair held in the Albert halls, Bolton. Lots of members got involved either making things or contributing materials, with the event proving to be a great learning experience.
This year we were hugely privileged and profoundly moved to receive our first ever legacy from Susan – a former member and stalwart supporter of all things Bolton Cancer Voices. It’s our intention to try and ensure this is used in pursuit of special moments and precious memories. We were humbled to see donations through our Just Giving Page all but smash the cost of our Accompanist for the year and our involvement in Turton Rotary Club’s Annual Duck Race made a further nice deposit in our ever-hungry bank account: with the Wee Jar initiative and various other ad-hoc activities playing their part too. We are as always, deeply indebted to all who so generously support us in whatever way: we couldn’t do what we do, in the way that we do it, without you!
Cheers: here’s to the next chapter in our ever-unfolding story.
Forthcoming Events
Songs and Sax
June 19 @ 7:15 pm