David Crookes

David was born in what was then an unknown small town in the West Riding of Yorkshire but now well known as the setting for 'The Last of the Summer Wine' TV series. He began singing in the local church choir aged about 8 and began his interest in choral music on a broader level by selling programmes for the local choral society aged about 12. At university he was in the University Choral Society and on going down began a teaching career in a SW Durham Primary School. Here apart from the 3 R's he tried to instil a love of music in any form in his pupils, sometimes even with a modicum of success! He has been a member of Durham Choral Society since it was re-formed in 1962 and for many years secretary thereof. He has also sung at different times in the North Yorkshire Chorus and a small group in Sunderland, the Ignatius Singers. His connection with Making Music goes back to the early 1980s when he first joined the committee. He served for 10 years as Secretary and then 6 years as Chairman up to the end of 2008.

Another passion developed early on was a love of opera which was expressed in former days in Durham by membership of two extraordinary opera groups - Palatine Opera and Durham County Opera, both now sadly defunct.

David spends about 3-4 months a year in Malta where one of his activities, possibly of a slightly bucolic nature is membership of The King’s Own Band Club in Valletta. He also is involved in Maltese philately, but with never enough money to buy what he really wants. Cooking good food and eating it are also great interests as a quick look at his waistline will show - or should that be wasteline?

Contact Details

davidcrookes@talktalk.net
Tel and fax: 0191 384 5515

> Groups for which David is visitor