MANY generations of Bournemouth children have found their singing voice in one of the town’s most beautiful buildings.

St Peter’s Church in the town centre has had a choir since Victorian times, offering young people from all backgrounds the chance to be part of beautiful music.

It was a boys' tradition for most of that time, but in recent years, girls have not only joined the choir but formed the majority.

The choral tradition at St Peter's goes back to at least the time that the magnificent Gothic revival church was built.

Duncan Courts, director of music, said: “There are very few records really but we assume that this choir came about when the church was being built, so we know there was a choir about 1879 when the church was finished, possibly before that.

“The Victorians were very forward looking so we don’t have much for posterity.”

Among the town’s many former choristers is Chris Mayne, who went on to be mayor of Bournemouth.

He joined around 1952, at the age of seven, and became head chorister a few years later. His son David would be head chorister in the 1980s.

“I was fortunate enough to sing in St Paul’s Cathedral with other choristers and in a triennial choir festival at the Royal Albert Hall in front of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret,” he said.

“And I went to a choir school in Kings College Taunton.”

Chris has two copies of a 78rpm record that was made from a tape recording of him singing in the church’s Annunciation Chapel.

He remembers Charlie Palmer and Richard Peterson as the choirmasters of his era.

“I didn’t go to Scouts or Cubs but it was very good for discipline and things like that,” he said.

“They used to operate a fine system and if boys misbehaved, they might have had a few pence deducted off their choir pay – because we used to be paid for a number of services and choir rehearsals.”

St Peter’s was reputed to have one of the top 10 non-cathedral choirs in the country. But by the end of 2008, it was down to just three boys, with choirmaster David Coram appealing in the echo for volunteers to help restore it to its former glory.

By the following Christmas, the choir was a healthy size – but with 13 boys joined at the seasonal concert by an eight-strong girls’ choir. Lara Louie, then aged nine, made history as the first female chorister at St Peter’s.

Mr Coram said then: “Choristers have recently been on programmes like the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.

“I don’t think there has been as much interest in choirs as there is now.”

In 2009, the boys’ choir created a new record by singing at the highest altitude in Europe to mark Ascension Day. They sang on the roof of the church before performing another Ascension hymn from the Bournemouth Eye balloon.

Mr Coram had been keen to beat a record set by a choir that had sung in Portsmouth’s 330ft Spinnaker Tower.

The church’s current director of music is Duncan Courts, a lifelong music lover who is an air traffic controller by profession.

It might sound a surprising combination, but he said: “Being a controller and being a musical director use some of the same skills. You’re not only thinking of yourself but you’re making sure everybody else is responsible for doing their job and it all comes together. There’s quite a lot of overlap.”

It was Duncan who brought girls and boys together in the same choir. “When I merged the choirs I was expecting a few people to be concerned that it might be the end for boys, but I think people were more concerned that the musical tradition continues,” he said.

The choir practises in a high-ceilinged rehearsal room in the church and performs to the accompaniment of the 103-year-old Harrison organ.

“It’s an essential part of what we do. It’s an inspiring building to sing in and it helps the music tremendously,” said Duncan.

He says people come to the choir from all kinds of social backgrounds, many of them novices as far as singing is concerned.

“Some of them just say they love singing in the shower. About half of them come without any musical expertise beyond assemblies at school. About 80 per cent try it, like it and stay.”

As for the musical skills, he said: “It’s not drilled into them. They pick it up. They take a pride in what they do and the skill comes naturally.”

These days, the choir of seven to 16-year-olds practices only in term time, twice a week, and sings only on some Sundays and special occasions. There is a short and informal audition and robes, tuition and refreshments are provided.

Father-of-two Duncan has loved his time directing the choir. “In a way, it prepared me for being a father, because there are all these kids who look up to you and expect you to know what to do. It’s nice to watch them grow up and become confident, skilled young people," he said.

He frequently runs into people who have fond memories of being in the St Peter’s choir.

“Rarely a day goes past without me meeting someone who says ‘I was here’. They all have a real affection for the place and have benefited from their time here,” he said.

Anyone interested in joining the choir can call 07967 357888 or 01202 735519, email music@stpetersbournemouth.org.uk or sign up at stpetersbournemouth.org.uk