DURSLEY Male Voice Choir will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a dinner for current choristers, ex-members and their wives and partners on Saturday, October 27.

Amongst those expected to attend are choir member Wilf Burns and his wife Joyce, pictured here, who are also celebrating their platinum (70th) wedding anniversary, on Tuesday, October 16.

Wilf, 93 was a founder member of the Dursley Male Voice Choir back in 1978, and is remembered by several current choir members as an enthusiastic second tenor, actively participating in competitions and choir tours overseas.

Wilf and Joyce’s wedding anniversary is on Tuesday, October 16 and, in addition to receiving a congratulatory card from Her Majesty The Queen, the choir sent a surprise card, signed by all the current choristers with the latest DMVC CD.

The couple lived in Wotton-under-Edge until 2000 and still maintain contact with many friends from the Dursley/Wotton area.

Wilf was a navigator in the RAF during World War II, left the service after the war, and then rejoined.

After postings both in the UK and overseas, his final tour was at RAF Quedgeley.

On retirement, Wilf started his own company, a mobile dinner party service, where he would go into people’s homes and cook meals for dinner guests.

Wilf and Joyce were very active in the Church of the Holy Cross in Wotton-under-Edge, and Wilf sang in the choir.

In 2000, they moved to the Wirral to be close to their daughter Celia and her family, recognising that they were getting older and needed more support. In Cheshire, Wilf joined several choirs there, only stepping down three years ago, age 90.

Joyce has further cause for festivity as she celebrates her 92nd birthday on October 28.

So Wilf and Joyce, plus the Dursley Male Voice Choir, will be merry-making on three counts at their dinner on October 27.

The choir will then give its ever-popular Christmas concerts in Dursley, on December 14 and 15.