Len Hogg - Our Founder
Len was born in Sutton in Ashfield in 1915 into a mining family. He followed his father into mining and worked in a number of pits before moving to Bestwood Colliery in 1952 as Manager. In due course , he was promoted to Manager of No. 6 Area of the East Midlands Division of the National Coal Board whose headquarters were also situated at Bestwood.
He was a family man. married in 1941 and blessed with a daughter and two granddaughters.
Len, who had been involved with colliery choirs before his arrival in Bestwood, quickly realised that something important was missing in the village. He instigated the formation of the Male Voice Choir in October 1952 starting with 36 members and rising to 50 within the first year. They practiced at the Miner's Welfare Institute with subscriptions being set at six old pence per week.
Len recruited a former colleague, Frank Dunn, to be the Choir's first Conductor, the latter also having considerable experience of male voice singing. it proved to be a good choice as he remained Conductor for the next 16 years.
A driving force for so many years, Len was President of the Choir at the time of his death in January 2005. However, his passion for music and the promotion of enjoyment in the art of choral singing lives on.
Since 1952. Len's legacy has touched many lives and the Choir commemorates his passing with a Tribute Concert early each year.
He was a family man. married in 1941 and blessed with a daughter and two granddaughters.
Len, who had been involved with colliery choirs before his arrival in Bestwood, quickly realised that something important was missing in the village. He instigated the formation of the Male Voice Choir in October 1952 starting with 36 members and rising to 50 within the first year. They practiced at the Miner's Welfare Institute with subscriptions being set at six old pence per week.
Len recruited a former colleague, Frank Dunn, to be the Choir's first Conductor, the latter also having considerable experience of male voice singing. it proved to be a good choice as he remained Conductor for the next 16 years.
A driving force for so many years, Len was President of the Choir at the time of his death in January 2005. However, his passion for music and the promotion of enjoyment in the art of choral singing lives on.
Since 1952. Len's legacy has touched many lives and the Choir commemorates his passing with a Tribute Concert early each year.