DESPITE being 91, a Leigh great-grandfather is still hitting the high notes after almost 40 years with his choir.

Charles Benford is the longest-serving member of Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir and isn’t slowing down as he prepares for the group’s next big concert with former Southend schoolboy turned West End star, Lee Mead.

He joined the choir in 1971 after his son John was recruited to the fledgling group while a pupil at Westcliff High School for Boys.

He said: “The music master, Gerwyn Parry, was a Welshman who started up the choir with Welsh exiles, but he only had a few.

“My son was in his class, and he asked him if he wanted to join, which he did. Then John asked me if I wanted to join too.”

Tenor Mr Benford has taken several overseas trips with the choir, including to Germany and Florida, where the group gave a performance at the Epcot Centre theme park.

Mr Benford, a former administration officer at Southend Council’s environmental health department, said: “We were the first English choir to sing at the Epcot Centre, and we got a plaque to commemorate our performance.”

Other highlights of Mr Benford’s time with the choir include performing with singers Aled Jones and Alfie Boe. He added: “We are preparing to sing at the Cliffs Pavilion with Lee Mead on January 30.

“He’s a local lad so the committee approached him and he said he would do the concert, which we’re all looking forward to.”

The choir’s musical director, David Clark, said: “Charles is a wonderful example and an inspiration to all the choir members, particularly the younger ones when he can prove he can learn the words and music by heart, even at 91.”

The choir’s next performance is at this Saturday’s launch of this year’s Poppy Appeal, which will take place from 7.30pm at Rayleigh Baptist Church, High Street, Rayleigh.

For more information on the choir, visit www.lomvc.org