History

Reading Barbershop Harmony Club is one of the four founding clubs of the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS). Back in 1974, some like-minded men sat around, including our own Gerry Holland,  and decided to set up a society that mimicked the society in the US. At that time the American society was called the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America Inc (SPEBSQSA), later renamed the Barbershop Harmony Society (thank goodness).

Reading gave themselves a performing name of the Berkshire Barbershoppers, but soon renamed themselves Thames Valley Chorus. 
 

Travelling

The choir has undertaken many trips abroad,

 
TVC on Tour
 
Year Destination
1992  Düsseldorf - Germany
1998  Düsseldorf - Germany
1999     Anaheim, California - USA
2001  Netherlands
2004     Dusseldorf - Germany
2007  Krakow and Warsaw - Poland
2009   Riva del Garda - Italy
2010  Pezenas - France
2011  Sligo - Republic of Ireland
2015  Düsseldorf - Germany
2017  Cork - Republic of Ireland
 

 


















 

Competitions

TVC has participated in most British Association of Barbershop Singers Convention Chorus Compettions  since they started in 1975. A number of videos of our performances over the years are available below. Can you help to fill in any of the gaps? Where the songs are highlited in blue click the link to hear/see the performance.
 
Convention Performances
 
Year / Venue Songs
1975 -Brighton?  Margie - For All We Know
1976 - Birmingham  Band Parade Medley - Let The Rest of The World Go By
1977 - Leicester  Opening Night on Broadway - Piano Roll Blues
1978 - Caister  Back in Dixie - South Rampart Street Parade
1979 -  No Chorus Competition
1980 - Birmingham  Summer Sounds - An Hour Never Passes
1981 - Skegness  TVC Did Not Compete
1982 - Warwick  Sunshine of Your Smile - Back in Dad and Mother's Day
1983 - Warwick  On The Mississippi - Sunshine of Your Smile
1984 - Warwick  Meet Me In Rose Time, Rosie - My Sweetheart Sally
1985 - Warwick  Keep your Sunny Side Up - When I Marry My Wild Irish Rose
1986 - Harrogate  When the Showboat Came to Town - Showboat Days/Let Me Call You Sweetheart
1987 - Bournemouth  If He Can Fight Like He Can Love - The Rose of No-Mans Land
1988 -Harrogate  If I Had My Way - Coney Island Baby
1989 - Bournemouth  Don't Leave Me, Dear Old Mammy = Coney Island Baby
1990 - Harrogate  Who'll Take My Place When I'm Gone - Swanee
1991 - Bournemouth  My Old Dutch - Toot Toot Tootsie
1992 - Birmingham  A Smile Will Go a Long, Long Way/Smile, Darn Ya, Smile Medley - The Masquerade Is Over
1993 - Harrogate  Mistaken - Somebody Stole My Gal/I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now Medley
1994 - Brighton  Oh! How I Miss You Tonight - Alabamy Medley
1995 - Harrogate  Gone - Play Me a Vaudeville Song Tonight
1996 - Bournemouth  Oh! How I Miss You Tonight - Play Me a Vaudeveille Song Tonight
1997 - Brighton  Sonny Boy - Jolson Medley
1998 - Harrogate  Swanee - Birth of the Blues
1999 - Blackpool  Always - Birth of the Blues
2000 - Brighton  Zing Went The Strings of My Heart - I Wonder What's Become of Sally
2001 - Glasgow  Bundle of Old Love Letters - Make 'em Laugh
2002 - Bournemouth  You Keep Coming Back Lie a Song - Zing Went the Strings of My Heart
2003 - Harrogate  Birth of the Blues - Lover Come Back
2004 - Harrogate  If I Give My Heart To You - Wonderful Day Medley
2005 - Brighton  If I Give My Heart To You - Everybody Step/Alexander's Ragtime Medley
2006 - Harrogate  Top Hat - If You Love Me
2007 - Scarboro  If I Give My Heart To You - There's a Tree In The Meadow
2008 - Cheltenham  How Deep Is The Ocean? - Why Don't You Fall In Live With Me?/Undecided Medley
2009 - Llandudno  How Deep Is The Ocean? - Sweet Georgia Brown
2010 - Harrogate  Last Night Was The End of The World - New Ashmolean Marching Society & Students Conservatory Band
2011 - Llandudno  Raining in My Heart - That's Life
2012 - Southport  You Don't Know Me - Never Say Never Again/Taking a Chance On Love
2013 - Bournemouth  You Don't Know Me - Girls Medley
2014 - Harrogate  Who'll Take My Place - I Can't Give You Anything But Love
2015 - Llandudno  If I Love Again - Love Me
2016 - Harrogate  I'm On My Way - Brother Can you Spare a Dime
2017 - Bournemouth  Get Me To The Church On Time - On The Street Where You Live
2018 - Harrogate  Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Good Luck Charm
2019 - Bournemouth  I've Been Working On The Railroad - Brother Can You Spare a Dime
2020 - Harrogate  COVID - No Competition
2021 - Bournemouth  COVID - No Competition
2022 - Harrogate  I've Got a Dream - If I Can Dream
2023 - Bournemouth  There's a Fine, Fine Line - Somebody To Love
2024 - Harrogate  Who'll Take My Place - Play a Vaudeville Song Tonight
2025 - Bournemouth  It's a Good Day - You'll Never Walk Alone

 
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