Choir History

The choir, originally known as the North British Steel Foundry Male Voice Choir, was started in 1926. It was during the depression and national strike of that year that workers in the steel foundry, fed up with nothing to do, decided to form a choir to fill their time and provide entertainment to a public who were much in need of cheering up.

The choir was originally conducted by Alexander Torrance and accompanied by James F. Ross. Concerts at that time were performed in the Bathgate Corn Exchange and attracted many famous names as guest artistes such as David McCallum, a well known violinist and cellist Luigi Casparini.

In 1957/58 the choir changed its name to the North British Steel Foundry Choir. This was due to the fact that the choir had become mixed voice and women were admitted for the first time. More famous names were invited as guests over the years: names such as Marion Studholme, Moira Anderson, Frank Oligario, Ann & Laura Brand, Robin Hall & Jimmy McGregor, Elizabeth Rust, Alistair Gillies, Helen McArthur, Ann Lorne Gillies, Peter Morrison, Linda Finnie and Thomas Lawler all graced the Bathgate stage. More recently, apart from the cost of attracting well known artistes, we have tried to encourage performances from local young artists while also managing to still bring some big names such as Graeme Danby, Lisa Milne and Kate Valentine all of whom are now commanding serious operatic billings and TV exposure.

The choir, from its institution in 1926 through to the 1980s, was sponsored by the North British Steel Group. The company was proud of the choir and ensured that the financial aspects of the organisation were well looked after – we would never have brought so many big names as guests without their help. The Menzies Family were always closely linked with the choir holding honorary positions as officials of the organisation – indeed George Menzies is still our Honorary President.

In 1996, our 70th anniversary year, it was decided that, since the North British Steel Group was no longer in existence, the choir needed a change of name. After much deliberation it was agreed that we would take the name of ‘The Bathgate Menzies Choir’ thus continuing the close links with the Menzies Family.

The ‘modern era’ of the choir – from the mid seventies onwards – was dominated by our twinning links with Hochsauerland Kries in Germany. Through the West Lothian Twinning Association the choir became involved with a male voice choir from Arnsberg – the Arnsberg Mannerchor. They first visited Bathgate in 1978 and the two choirs immediately formed a close bond. We made a return visit in 1980 and a number of twinning trips took place between our two countries over the next 15 years only coming to an end when for economic reasons, members in both choirs found it increasingly difficult to commit to the expense of such trips and it was not possible to perform without a full choir being available. A number of our members still maintain German friendships made on these visits.

More recently our style of music selection has changed once again.  The choir sings a lot of the choral music of John Rutter. We have also performed a number of pieces arranged by Purcell J Mansfield and Andrew Carter who is an expert in arranging the music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin for choirs. 

So, as we approach our centenary year in 2026, we are still hopefully fostering the study and performance of good choral music to appreciative audiences. Our members remain around the 50 mark but we do try to attract new (younger) voices each year. A number of our members have been singing in the choir for more than 25, 30, yes 40 years and a few have even reached the 50 year milestone - a great achievement. We present long service pins for 25 years membership and those who reach the dizzy heights of 50 years receive an inscribed Quaich to mark the occasion.