Samuel Broughton (1864 - 1946)Mus. Bac. (Oxon), Hon. RMCM

Conductor from 1907 - 1946

Samuel Broughton was educated at Burnley Grammar School and began his musical studies under the late W. A. C. Cruickshank (Organist and choirmaster at Burnley Parish Church) and afterwards at Queen’s College, Oxford.

In 1907 Mr S. H. Broughton reconstituted an existing Choral Society, renaming it the “Lytham Vocal Society”. For the next 39 years he was its Musical Director, giving his time and energy to further the choral tradition in the borough. A man of strong personality, a devout Christian, a scholarly musician, he became one of Lytham’s best known residents and was the organist at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church in Lytham for 48 years.

(Copied from notes in the 1957 Jubilee Souvenir Brochure)

George Armstrong ARMCM, Mus Bac, LTCL, Mus Doc, FRMCM

Conductor 1949 - 1957

George Armstrong was born in Morpeth, Northumberland in 1897. He was organist at St Stephen’s-on-the-Cliffs, Blackpool (1928 - 1937) and St Thomas’ Church, Blackpool (1937 - 1947) and was a frequent recitalist for the BBC prior to the Second World War.

In 1949 Dr Armstrong, who was then Professor of Harmony at the Royal Manchester College of Music and a resident of Lytham, was appointed Hon. Conductor. His association with the Society was terminated by his sudden death in June 1957, when arrangements had just been completed for the forthcoming Jubilee Season.

“Under his leadership the Society was a well-knit ’happy family’ and I recall the pleasure which he and I and other officials felt when, at our last Annual General Meeting over 40 of our 63 members attended. Also at our last Annual Dinner and Dance at the Clifton Arms hotel, there was the same ’happy family’ atmosphere which our visiting speakers were quick to notice. The loss of Dr. Armstrong was more than the loss of a conductor; it was a personal loss to all of us.”

(Tribute by Lady Edge in 1957)

Harry Wrigley LGSM, ATCL

Conductor from 1957 - 1977

Harry Wrigley became the conductor of the choir in 1957 following the sudden death of the previous conductor, Dr Armstrong. During his twenty years as conductor he introduced the choir to many of the pieces which are now regarded as standard in the choral repertoire. Indeed before his tenure the choir has performed only one piece in Latin and that was in 1920. Pieces introduced by Harry Wrigley include:-

Brahms      German Requiem
Dvořák       Mass in D
Elgar          From the Bavarian Highlands
Elgar          The Music Makers
Fauré         Requiem
Handel       Jeptha
Haydn        Nelson Mass     
Rossini      Petite Messe Solennelle
Vintner       A Christmas Fantasy
Vivaldi        Gloria

Additionally Harry Wrigley created a string orchestra in 1964 and later added woodwind and brass to create an orchestra to accompany the choir and also which also produced its own concerts. This orchestra eventually became the Fylde Sinfonia