History – Roaring Megs Choir

The Roaring Megs is a not-for-profit choir bound together by the enduring magic of group singing.

Thanks to Ron for authoring our history.

The origins of the Roaring Megs dates back to the last months of 2010, when Sally Richardson had an idea to bring a few friends together for some sort of informal sing song now and again. An inaugural meeting in the bar of the Hostelrie was organised, when approximately 20 potential singers turned up – clearly Sally had identified a popular need!

The group first met in the Dining Room of the Hostelrie in January 2011, calling itself the Goodrich Choir, where we amused ourselves with well-known songs like ‘Nine Green Bottles’. Shortly afterwards George was approached and asked if he’d like to be the Choirmaster and Musical Director for our fledgling choir, to which he (possibly too hastily!) agreed. Shortly afterwards the choir name changed to the ‘Roaring Megs’, after a suggestion by Georgia Banks-Martin, sharing the quite appropriate name with a civil war mortar on display at Goodrich Castle. Our new leader wasted no time in getting us up to speed, with our first gig at the Goodrich Street Party celebrating the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William on 29th April 2011! Our set list included ‘Over The Rainbow’, ‘Consider Yourself’ and the National Anthem!

Member numbers grew to the point where we no longer fitted in the Hostelrie Dining Room, and the move was made to our final rehearsal home in Goodrich Village Hall. Our subsequent gig list includes performances at the Hostelrie Queen’s Jubilee celebrations of 2012, Goodrich Castle Chapel from 2013 – 2015, Wilton Castle (then handily owned by a Megs member!) in 2014, the Upton on Severn Choral Festivals of 2015 and 2016, Glewstone Court Hotel in 2016, Ross and Goodrich Churches in 2017 and 2018, Lyde Court in 2018, and Ross Rowing Club in 2018 and 2019. A welcome feature of our performances has been the quite considerable sums of money raised for local charities over the years and which, apart from a hiatus caused by Covid, will hopefully continue into the future. From very modest beginnings the membership list now numbers some 80+ singers!