DESPITE no suitable performance hall in the borough and escalating costs of staging concerts, members of Ashford Choral Society are surviving and thriving.

They have been in rehearsals for their 150th year celebration events.

Hightlight of the year will be an anniversary concert in Canterbury Cathedral on May 12 when it is hoped for up to 1,000 supporters at a spectacular event costing around £15,000 to stage.

The programme will feature William Walton’s choral masterpiece Belshazzar’s Feast, plus two lesser known works, Elgar’s The Spirit of England and Vaughan Williams’ Unknown Region.

Before that, at Wye Church on March 24, the society will be performing Durufle’s Requiem and officers are also planning a members dinner in the historic Wye College.

Members travel from as far as Tonbridge, Maidstone, and Rye for intense two-hour rehearsals every Tuesday evening in Bank Street Centrepiece church hall.

They come from all walks of life and range in age from teenagers of 15 to a base singer nearing his century, although the majority of the 130-plus members would be described as mature.

New members and additional sponsors are always welcome and should contact secretary Eunice Smith on 01233 624843 or chairman Alan Paterson on 01233 812740.Adults membership is £70 with students and anyone under 25 free.