On 29th April, whilst we were getting ready for our mic cooling spot at Harrogate, we heard the sad news that our Joint Life President, George Denton had lost his battle with cancer. George was the founder of the chorus along with Terry Smith, our other Joint Life President. To me, George was also a friend and neighbour who lived over the road from my parents and who introduced me to the world of Barbershop Harmony. I’ll be forever grateful for that introduction as I get towards forty-two years of BABS membership. George had been bass in the quartet, The Four Strops, and was Chairman of the club for its first four years and again on many occasions since. As more people in the area wanted to join in, it was decided to disband the quartet and instead form Bolton Barbershop Harmony Club. Proud of Bolton’s roots in the cotton production industry, George felt it important the town’s history should be reflected in the club’s name and The Cottontown Chorus was born. He was a great organiser of our many trips to Germany and Ireland, each trip filled with as many things to do as possible; walking down to the Giant’s Causeway, trips out to a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle where George convinced the singing minstrels to have a short break whilst the gathered diners were treated to a bit of barbershop. He really was a great ambassador for the chorus. A cajoler, a salesman and just an all-round enthusiastic member. He met a guy at a sales conference and came away with a booking for the chorus to sing on a train hauled by the steam locomotive, 4472 Flying Scotsman; not once but twice! Strangely, most of George’s trips away involved tours around Irish Whiskey distilleries. We got quite knowledgeable, and honest! George was also instrumental in founding a second barbershop chorus in Bolton. In the eulogy by George’s son, Phoenix Knights of Harmony became like a home for retired barbershop singers! Members of both choruses came together at George’s funeral to sing An Irish Blessing
By Mick Dargan