Obituary: Len Wilson, headteacher and chorist

Len Wilson, who has died at 93, was a former headteacher and for 50 years a stalwart of the amateur choral world – Steeton Male Voice Choir in particular.

He served as choir secretary and later president of the organisation, cementing its place as one of the leaders in its field, in Yorkshire and beyond.

Born in Barrow-in Furness, he joined the local church choir at age seven and continued to sing there for 20 years. After school he trained as a teacher at St John’s College in York, and after qualifying undertook his National Service in Germany.

His first teaching post was as history master at a secondary school in Barrow, before taking up a deputy headteacher post in South Walney Island. From there he moved over the Pennines to Westow in Ryedale, taking a year out in the 1960s to obtain a Bachelor of Education degree at Leeds University.

As head teacher of East Morton Primary School, near Bingley, he set about persuading the local authority to erect a new building to replace the dilapidated one he inherited. He served as head there until his retirement in 1987.

He joined the nearby Steeton choir in 1970, having decided he decided he needed a relaxing activity, and never left, organising and taking part in concert tours across Europe.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, whom he met at the local Church Fellowship during the war and married in 1954, and by two sons, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.