In 1955 a dozen or so former pupils of Farnham Girls’ Grammar School were asked to give a concert at their association’s annual reunion. The enthusiasm of this group of singers, conducted by John Cotterill, a former pupil of the Boys’ Grammar School, and led by the association’s secretary Molly Medhurst, resulted in the formation of the Waverley Singers in March of that year. The choir was named not after Borough of Waverley, but after the house in Waverley Lane, Farnham, where the rehearsal were held.
During the next few years, various concerts were given in the Farnham area. Then the choir opened their membership to men and began to perform four-part choral works. In 1960 a performance of Faure’s Requiem heralded the progression to more complex works with full orchestral accompaniment and a number of eminent professional soloists and the Waverley Singers established and excellent reputation.
Highlights in the long period when John Cotterill was conductor include the St Matthew Passion given at Odiham in 1973, the Christmas Oratorio at the Farnham Maltings, the choir’s silver jubilee performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in 1980, and an opera gala night with Teresa Cahill as soloist, and trumpeters from the Royal Military School of Music.
When Malcolm Hicks took over the baton in 1982 a number of major changes took place. He insisted on high standards and a more disciplined approach, coupled with the engagement of the professional Tilford Bach Orchestra.
With an eye on the finances, the Waverley Singers took the unusual step of joining the Adult Education Institute so that members became students of the Institute, with Malcolm as their tutor, and among the benefits came the availability of the large hall at South Farnham School, where rehearsals still take place.
Increasing membership and the need to accommodate the orchestra also led to a search for a new concert venue, resulting in the use by the choir of St Andrew’s Garrison Church of Scotland in Aldershot for all their larger scale concerts.
With its excellent acoustic, large open area capable of seating an audience of 500, and a large, fine organ, the church was a happy find.
Other venues have included:
