FOR a quarter of a century they have been combining stretching their vocal cords with stretching their muscles.

The 50 Plus Singers started as an off-shoot of the 50 Plus Health and Fun Club at Fareham Leisure Centre and has maintained that link ever since.

Now members are celebrating its 25th anniversary with a charity concert.

The choir was started in January 1989 by a member of the health and fitness club, which runs a number of keep-fit activities for the over-50s at Fareham Leisure Centre.

The leisure centre gave its support and just a few months later, in March, the choir gave its first public performance at Salisbury City Hall.

When it began the choir had 25 members but has since grown to 65 members – including ten who have taken part since it was formed.

The choir meets at Fareham Leisure Centre to practise on Friday mornings.

This initial link between the health club and the singing club remains to this day and some members will even do activities in the morning directly before the choir’s rehearsals.

The choir performs about 12 concerts a year, including at care homes, for retirement associations, at Christmas events and at church services.

Its musical director of ten years Sheila Javes is also the assistant conductor of the Fareham Philharmonic Choir.

Club secretary Fred Bridges, who has been a member 14 years, said: “It fufils a need.

“It combines an activity which is quite health giving – singing is something which keeps you to a degree active, or at least it keeps the mind active and it’s good for the lungs and good for the heart – and there’s a social aspect to it as well.

“It’s a good activity and especially now for people who have been involved in sports. Singing is a good alternative.”

The 50 PLUS Singers will hold a musical evening at Holy Trinity Church in Fareham on November 15 at 7.30pm in aid of the Mayor of Fareham’s charities the Stubbington Ark Animal Shelter near Fareham and the Rowans Hospice. They will also be raising money towards the Holy Trinity Church High Time appeal to repair the tower and restore the clock.

Tickets cost £7.50, or £6 concessions, and are available from the Stubbington Ark shop in Fareham, the Holy Trinity Church Parish Office and on the door.