It was a poignant evening for Gala Water Singers Community Choir when they performed their summer concert ‘A Sentimental Journey: 70 years of American Music’.

The choir was on a sentimental journey of its own, as this was their final performance with Music Director James Letham.

Jim has led the choir since initial ‘Come and Sing’ events in summer 2011 successfully tested the water for a community choir in the Gala Water valley, but is now standing down due to other work pressures.

Chair John Wilkinson said: “Over 50 people at different times have been part of Gala Water Singers and through the six years we’ve been going. Jim has guided and inspired a collection of individuals with varying abilities and experience - often none - into a group able to sing across a range of genres and styles.

"We have achieved much more than we would have thought possible due to Jim’s superb commitment and teaching and we owe him a great deal.

"But perhaps the greatest part of his legacy is the love of singing that he supported and developed in our valley, and the joy of singing as a group which is now anchored into our weekly schedule, and which will continue. We can’t thank Jim enough for all he’s done for us.”

At the end of the concert the choir showed their enthusiastic appreciation of their Music Director with a standing ovation and gift presentation.

The choir is looking for a new Music Director and meanwhile count themselves fortunate that Nancy Muir, known to many from Selkirk Opera and who has worked with the choir before, will lead Gala Water Singers till the end of the year to give time for a music director to be appointed.

Anyone interested in this remunerated position is encouraged to contact John Wilkinson on 01578 730289 or john@galabank.co.uk for a discussion. And new singers are always welcome; contact John for joining details.