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Prudhoe is a small town on the banks of the River Tyne in Northumberland, situated between Newcastle upon Tyne and Hexham. Its 11th century castle was perfectly placed to defend the area from the marauding bands from the Scottish borders who,at that time, frequently came south looking for conquest. The Prudhoe Gleemen Male Voice Choir was founded in quieter times in the year 1903 in the nearby village of Wylam.
The first practice was attended by eight members of the local Methodist
Church and took place in a field adjacent to the church. The first conductor was the local butcher, and his daughter was the accompanist. After some eight years, during which time the choir built up its numbers and its reputation, it moved to its present home of Prudhoe, and the role of conductor was taken over by Harry Harland. He was to lead the choir on to some of its most spectacular successes for the next forty years. Retiring in 1951, Mr Harland was succeeded by Bob Hull, another fine local musician, who carried on the tradition of longevity, retiring in 1981. The present conductor, Colin Smith, is therefore only the choir's fourth in its history of 94 years.