SEVENTY years after becoming a chorister Donald Westcott will sing in a church choir for the last time at Malvern's Holy Trinity Church on Sunday, September 3.

The date marks the completion of 19 years in the choir at Holy Trinity for Mr Westcott, of Layland Avenue, who joined after retiring as head of the former Cowleigh School.

While there he started a school string orchestra and made more than 40 instruments - violins, violas, cellos, and double bass, at home in his garage.

He sang at St Peter's Church from the time he came to Malvern to take over the headship in 1960 to when he retired in 1981.

But his days as a chorister began at Pershore Abbey, where he joined the choir in 1930, at the age of seven. His brother, Lyn, joined at the same time and still sings in the Abbey choir.

"To begin with, we used to sometimes treat ourselves to a ha'porth of chips on choir practice night, but as we progressed our little bit of choir money grew to about 5s (25p) a quarter," said Mr Westcott.

They saved up their money until they could afford to buy a bike, but as they only had one bike between two, they developed their own system of park and ride, one cycling half way to the Abbey and then leaving the bike for the other to pick up.

Mr Westcott's choral singing was brought to a temporary halt by the war, but even when serving with the RAF in the Middle East he managed to join a church choir in Aden.

Now he is giving up the church choir, but he will remain the longest serving member of Malvern Male Voice Choir, which he joined 40 years ago.

He does not have a favourite hymn, but said: "I like a church filled with people singing joyful hymns. I think church music should be uplifting and err on the side of simplicity."