Northampton Male Voice Choir

July 16^th 1959, saw a National Service Induction at Gibraltar Barracks, Northampton, and amongst those arriving that day was the lad who would very quickly become 23632907, Private Spendlove, R.

He trained in the platoon of Sergeant Geoffrey Thompson and in the fullness of time, passed out’ and was drafted to Aden. He never encountered Sergeant Thompson again during his time in service, but always made the point that he considered the Sergeant to be as respected, able, pleasant and considerate an NCO as he ever met. Nothing ever changed that view.

On his release, Private Spendlove returned to civilian life and spent the next thirty years working for British Rail (for many years in management posts) and during the mid eighties began to make a ‘now and again’ name for himself in broadcasting, particularly at that time, in the field of news and documentary work.

His fiftieth birthday came and he chose to take his pension, retire from British Rail and try to forge a new career as a broadcaster. To say that he became successful is probably to understate the case. He assumed the duties of Late Night Producer and Presenter of what was to become the longest running ‘chat show’ in the history of broadcasting (it still runs today) and, along the way, collected a bevy of awards, including having been voted, in a national magazine, “The Nation’s Most popular Regional and Local Radio Presenter” This being followed by the award of the MBE “For Services to Regional and Local Radio Broadcasting” five years ago. In addition to this he found time to create, co-write (with David Croft, OBE) the BBC Television Hit series, “Oh Doctor Beeching”, in which he is also seen as an actor, playing District Inspector Ernest Orkindale.

And still, whilst all this was going on, he wondered, often, how life had treated his Platoon Sergeant from all those years ago. He tried to find him many times and always without success. Then one night, during the show, and anonymous caller, suggested that he ring a particular telephone number, and ask for Mr Thompson. He made that call the next day, some four years ago, and discovered that he was speaking to Sergeant Thompson. He travelled within the week to the Sergeant’s home and the two met up again, after a break of some forty one years. From then, they remained in touch.

Then came the opportunity to tie up, finally, all the loose-ends.

Richard, and his wife - who he met and married during a posting to Watchet - went with friends on their annual winter holiday to Spain and on the way back from a visit to Cadiz, he spotted an almost hidden signpost at the side of the road, which, read, “Cabo Trafalgar”. The four returned for a picnic there and in thirty five minutes, Richard wrote a six verse poem about the Admiral Viscount Lord Nelson and the Battle which took place there in 1805. He returned home and set it to music. The first Male Voice Choir to take up the opportunity to sing it, was the Northampton Male Voice Choir. They have also since recorded it on their new C/D.

The fourth of November last, at St, Sepulchre’s Church, his Regimental Church, an evening concert was given by the choir, who invited Richard along to compere the proceedings. He did so. His piece, “By Cape Trafalgar” was one of the songs they sang, and as the evening drew to a close, the Musical Director announced that Richard had been invited to become a Vice president of the Choir; a post he readily accepted.

Richard’s wife, Betty, his Mother and Sister, who had flown from Cornwall, were his guests for the evening.

But they weren’t quite the only guests. Occupying the other two guests’ chairs were Mr. And Mrs Geoffrey Thompson (who had married in the church 46 years before and a matter of months before the two men had met at the depot in Northampton) all those years ago.

Sergeant Thompson was introduced to the audience and brought to his feet to acknowledge the compliments Richard, at last, had the opportunity to publicly pay, and he did it in no small measure.

It was the time, the place, The Regiment, the occasion, all coming together to tie up many MANY loose ends.

It simply felt……………………….. Right………………….!