Old Gold

Geoff Ramsey - Tenor

Peter Jones - Lead

Eddie Evans - Bass

Mike Kimber - Baritone

When I (Mike) joined the Roker Peers of Harmony in 1978, I was already in a quartet that we had formed at work (Gateshead College). Four of us Lecturers got together and formed a quartet which, eventually, became called Old Gold. (We chose this name because old gold is a Yellow colour, and so were the suits that the Roker Peers wore). The foursome was Ronnie Bailey (Lead), Eddie Evans (Bass), Ted Crow (Tenor) and Mike Kimber (Baritone).

Then, in 1982, Ronnie Bailey left, and we drafted in George Porter (from the Peers) to sing Lead.

Then in 1984 George's work took him away from the North-East, and we converted Peter Jones from Tenor, to
sing Lead. In 1986 it was the turn of Ted Crow to call it a day, and Geoff Ramsey took over as Tenor. (Still called Old Gold at this stage).

Later on (in 1993) Peter Jones left barbershop, and George Porter re-joined the quartet as Lead.

In 1994, Eddie Evans took a sabbatical break from barbershop. and Chris Bennett became our Bass. At this
time, we decided to change our name, and since it was the fifth time we changed the line-up, we decided to call
ourselves Fifth Amendment.

In about 1994, George found pressure of work too much, and he left the quartet, which went into semi-retirement for a while, until Jeannie Kimber filled the vacant Lead spot in the quartet. (Still called Fifth Amendment).

At this time, the chorus had reduced down to three members, so we added a few lady barber shoppers, persuaded their husbands to sing with us, and performed for three or four years as a Mixed Chorus called Mixed Company.

This chorus broke up in about 2005, when we lost our (free) rehearsal room, and things went into hibernation again.
Except that the three remaining were Mike Kimber. Eddie Evans and Geoff Ramsey, who were three-quarters of Old Gold.

Missing only a Lead, I spotted an email from a Lead looking for a "great quartet", and they traveled down to
Skipton, North Yorkshire, to meet Wayne Jackson, an American serving in the US Air Force.

Together they decided to form a quartet, capable of challenging at the very top level in Britain, but the punishing schedules, and commitment required proved too much a burden for Eddie, and he resigned from the quartet, his place being taken by Chris Bennett (formerly in Fifth Amendment, now living in North Yorkshire). This quartet eventually took the name ABACUS, from the initials of A Brit, A Canadian, and a US citizen. They competed at the BABS 2008 Convention at Cheltenham, where they placed 12th.

The quartet then disbanded, and Mike and Geoff returned to the North-East, met up again with Eddie Evans and Peter Jones, and re-formed Old Gold.

Mike Kimber - Club secretary

 

Plan B

Sue Jones - Tenor

Peter Jones - Lead

Eddie Evans - Bass

Mike Kimber - Baritone

Plan B were formed as a mixed voice quartet with Peter's wife, Susan singing tenor. Plan B have sung at many venues and recently sang on the Harmony College 2009 evening show in Nottingham. They have been together since 2008 and are steadily building a repertoire of songs to suit the mix of voices that they have.

 

Masquerade

Sue Jones - Tenor

Peter Jones - Lead

Tom Hornby - Bass

Tommy Laws - Baritone

Masquerade were formed in August 2008 after a chance telephone call between two members of the original Roker Peers of Harmony.

The quartet comprises Peter Jones (lead), Tom Hornby (bass), Tom Laws (baritone) and Susan Jones who sings tenor. Susan (Peter’s wife) sings alto in a ladies choir and her voice is within the range of a male tenor which gives Masquerade a quite distinctive quality.

Peter Jones - Musical Director