St John's House home to world's oldest choir

A residential home in north Yorkshire has secured its place in the record books after its choir was named the oldest in the world.

The ensemble at St John’s House, in Kirk Hammerton, which has a combined age of 1,180 years old and an average age of 91 per member, is delighted to win its place in the Guinness Book of Records.

They smashed the previous record, which was held by a group with an average age of 81 years old, when they performed for adjudicators in April but only recently discovered their achievement.

Syd Shorter, the only male member of the 13-strong choir, is delighted with their achievement. The 93-year-old former electrician and RAF aircraftsman said: “I’ve been jogged into this at the end of my life. I’d never even considered singing before, now I feel totally enhanced by it.”

Care home manager Andrea Marks is “so proud” of the record-breaking group. She said: “There is no doubt that our choir has grown in confidence and ability since they first sang together in 2012. Recently they’ve performed in a music hall at St John’s House, a community concert alongside the children and residents of our local community and, most recently, in an open air 40’s style concert.

“We are absolutely delighted to witness the many positive benefits that singing is bringing to our residents. Our weekly choir practices, public performances and now this latest accolade, have given them a real sense of purpose and wellbeing. We are so proud of them.”