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.
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,| 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.| 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 |
