We were taken on a journey by Elaine Tangye, beginning with her early years as Elaine Trestrail, a six-year-old, playing the piano and the chapel organ.

By eight, as a Brownie and a Guide she had gained all her musical badges, and was playing piano for the Gang Shows. During this time she was studying the Tenor Horn, but later changed to the Clarinet, finding this a much warmer instrument. Delightful photographs of her youth were passed around, showing beaming little Elaine, winning the Best Dressed Dolls Pram competition, Elaine as Fairy Queen Attendant and as Carnival Queen, bringing back our memories of similar summer events.
 

Moving on to her secondary school times, where at Tretheras and Newquay School, she added the drums to her musical range. Out of school, the chapel featured strongly, where she was encouraged to sing and play. Throughout her talk she mentioned her teachers, Goff Richards, Charlie Keast and Arthur Jewell.

At 14 she was an accompanist for the male voice choir. This was to be the beginning of an association with choirs which continues to this day.
 

After marriage to David Tangye, they moved to Stithians and had two daughters. Elaine has been associated with both male and female St Stithians choirs for 34 years, latterly as Musical Director.
 

It is not an exaggeration to say that music is her life. In 1990, as musical director of Nankersey Choir, she toured Jersey, Wales, the Cotswolds, performing at Bristol Cathedral and the Royal Albert Hall. The choir raised many thousands of pounds for charity, and in 2006 the Nankersey Male Voice Choir was nominated for the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
 

2003 was a busy year, David became President of Stithians Agricultural Show and Elaine supported him. It also saw the Kernow Choir go to Moonta in Australia, to attend the Kernewek Lowender there. Moonta is a mining area, known as Australia's Little Cornwall, as it is complete with engine houses but the pasties given as refreshment seemed a variation on the traditional, having pumpkin instead of turnip!
 

2004 found Elaine's daughter playing in Stithians Band, with Elaine playing cymbals – yet another addition to her musical range. The joy that Elaine gains from her music is very evident, but to be made a Bard for her services to music in Cornwall in 2005 was one of the highlights of her career.
 

Her association with music and choirs has given opportunities to perform at many local outdoor events, such as the naming dedication of a new Gig at Flushing, where the Nankersey Male Voice Choir sang “Calm is the Sea”. As well as at Cornish events in New Zealand , with the Trelawny Male Voice Choir, performing in Christchurch Cathedral (since destroyed in their recent earthquakes) and at The Rotorua Boys School, which is twinned with Truro Penair School. In Singapore, an audience danced in the isles to the tune of the Flora Dance
 

The choir venues ranged from Wookey Hole in the Cheddar Gorge, with the Stithians Ladies Choir, to the Royal Albert Hall, where she conducted 600 voices of the Cornish Federation of Male Voice Choirs. (This last event raised over £60,000 for charity, £24,476 going to Cornish Hospices and to the RNLI). 


Looking to the future, Trelawny Male Voice Choir is now planning a 2015 visit to Eastern Canada and Elaine is looking forward to going with them, having missed their previous visit due to ill health.


At intervals, throughout Elaine's talk, David played us recordings of the various choirs. We wished we could have heard more but it was time for pasty, tea and a chat.


Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 27. Everyone is welcome to join us at 2.30pm in the Public Hall as we follow  the history of  Cornish Wrestling from Gerry Cawley, member of The Cornish Wrestling Association, himself a former champion both in Cornwall and in The Interceltic Championships.