'One-man choir' reaches milestone

Mr Nichol was eight-years-old when he joined the choir

A chorister who is the last remaining member of a choir, is celebrating 70 years of singing at his church in Northumberland.

David Nichol, 78, joined the parish choir at St John Lee Church in Acomb in 1939, when it boasted 36 choristers.

Numbers fell and Mr Nichol has been the sole voice since 1977.

The tenor, whose devotion was recognised by the Queen in 2000, is to be honoured at a special harvest thanksgiving service this weekend.

He said: "I've seen off 10 vicars and about eight organists in my time.

"I just love singing in St John Lee and I have done all my life.

"It is a beautiful church, a beautiful setting and the people are very, very kind and sociable in the congregation.

"As long as my legs keep going and my voice is here, I will still be here."

Rector Jeremy Thompson, 50, said Mr Nichol helped give the church, near Hexham, "stability".

He said: "Knowing that Davy is going to walk down the aisle and stand in the choir and sing every Sunday is tremendous.

"It is one of those things that people know is going to happen.

"I think everybody really rather cherishes Davy."

Mr Nichol was invited by Buckingham Palace to attend the Millennium Memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in London.