Singers to gather at village for community music event

The Longwood Sing takes place every year in the Huddersfield village of Longwood and has done since 1873.

It takes place this Sunday, September 11, in the shadow of Longwood Tower.

The Golcar band will provide the music and there will be singing from Crow Lane and Salendine Nook schools.

A memorial hymn will recognise the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in America.

The event starts at 2.30pm and money raised will go to the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield.

Spokesman Charles Ross said this year’s event marked the 150th anniversary of the tower, which is close to the concrete and stone open air theatre where the sing takes place.

Mr Ross said: “The Longwood Sing is know as the Mother of all Sings as it is the longest running event of its type in the country.

“The first was in 1873, organised by members of the local choral society.

“It has happened every year since, including through both world wars.”

Over the first 50 years of the community event it raised just over £1,000, but now raises that amount each year.

The tower was built by a local mill owner who persuaded those laid off by the textile recession to work together to build it.

By the time the tower was finished the textile trade had picked up again and – fortunately for the mill owner – none of the skilled labour had left the area.