Lynne Benton

My most treasured memory of my time at Newton Park was the college choir, under the direction of the brilliant, charismatic John Richards (always Mr Richards to us: in those days, we never called our tutors by their first names).

At the end of our first year (July 1964), Mr Richards asked us if we'd like to go to Llangollen to sing in the annual International Eisteddfod. Of course, we said yes, and it was a wonderful, unforgettable experience. The little town was given over entirely to the Eisteddfod and all the competitors. As we wandered around the town it was quite magical to see small groups of dancers or singers, all in their national costumes, rehearsing in the street.

We stayed overnight on camp beds in the primary school, and the following day we rehearsed in the bicycle shed, so it all felt strangely exciting. When we entered the vast marquee itself, we were blown away by the standard of the other choirs. I remember particularly a Bulgarian choir whose singing was out of this world. Not surprisingly, they won the competition – but we came second. We couldn't have been more delighted if we'd actually won! (Two years later, on our third visit to Llangollen, we did win – but it didn't feel quite as astonishing as that first year when we came second). To me, the hills of Llangollen will always be alive with the sound of music. 

As to how my time at Newton Park affected my life: I met my future husband through Mr Richards' choir. Although he left Newton Park before I started, we met as part of a small offshoot choir of past students and have been happily married for the last 52 years (and counting!).

_{The Alumni Oral Histories project aimed to gather individual voices and views from the University's teaching alumni community and publish these stories in people's own words. Any views or opinions represented in individual posts are personal, belonging solely to the author of that post, and do not represent the views of other Bath Spa staff, or Bath Spa University as an institution.}