(Posted by Brian Sargent)
Who else can we be talking about but our very own Len Matthews, whose contribution to barbershop was recognised at a recent presentation by Grand Central Chorus. The Chairman, Derek Dodman, presented him with a certificate of Honorary Life Membership, and embroidered jacket, in appreciation of his years of dedicated service to the cause of barbershop, and me. Although he and the chorus didn’t know about me!
Len first came into my view in the early eighties in a Police Training School lecture hall. I was there expecting to be bored by the stodgy details of the latest legislation. Ha! It was entertainment all the way and we couldn’t wait to get back from tea break!
Fast forward twenty years and I went to watch next doors’ lad playing trumpet with the East Midlands Youth Orchestra. Much to my surprise, out walks Len, older, greyer, but definitely Len and he delivered the same routine he’d …. no I lie! He entertained us with his usual wit. After the interval it was Grand Central Chorus’s turn with Len doing his legendary introductions. I spoke to him after the show and got invited to the ‘Afterglow’. That was me stuck on Barbershop.
His other talent of writing and performing pantomime had led him to Barbershop, when the Ugly Sister, knowing Len had been a chorister all his life, invited him along to a rehearsal. Immediately hooked, he joined the lead section in 1993, going on to win gold at convention in 1996, 2001 and 2003, at Sligo in 2001, and silver in the European competition of 2001. It was during this period that he wrote a musical skit on ‘Robin Hood’ which took America by storm at the International Convention and wowed the Europeans in Holland, before becoming a regular part of chorus performances.
In 1995 several of the chorus went off for a drink before a concert and, inevitably, they were late back for the show. Such was the start to Len’s compering career. At the venue, an anxious director was wondering how to calm a mutinous audience. But Len was in the wings, stepped out and saved the show delivering one of his routines. He was an overnight sensation and became a permanent feature at shows for the chorus. Such was his popularity that he went on to present many headline shows at convention.
And it doesn’t end there. Some four years ago he published a book of jokes ‘Laugh with Len’ in aid of Christies Hospital, Manchester, making them £1500.
Although now seriously considering “retirement” from the spotlight, we look forward to many more years of friendship and thank Len for his contribution over the years.