A CHOIR formed in 2011 is getting ready to celebrate its true 10th anniversary after three years were “lost” due to Covid-19.

East Linton Community Choir will mark the occasion with a weekend of concerts next month.

Founder Lorraine Cormack was pleased to mark the milestone after its delay.

She said: “It was quite difficult to work out when was 10 years, considering we lost three years.

“In 2011, I asked a neighbour – I had moved in about six months beforehand, in the summer – if there was a choir in the area that I could help out at, being a former head of music who had just retired.

“They said ‘no’ and I put flyers up and down the street I live on and down to the High Street.

“I booked a room upstairs in the hall and had 15 people and I thought that was fine.”

Since then, the choir, whose singers range in age from their thirties to seventies, has gone from strength to strength.

The group now features up to 40 singers, and they have performed at the village’s primary school and during festive celebrations in the community.

The choir practises every Wednesday from 7.45pm in East Linton Community Hall.

Lorraine, who was previously head of music at Newbattle High School in Easthouses, said: “The first performance was singing a few Christmas carols in The Square in the usual market we have at Christmas.

“From there, we now have at least 36 to 40 singers and, at the moment, we have got 10 men.

“I don’t audition anyone – they just come along and sing.

“This year is pretty special and we wanted to recognise the commitment of quite a number of those in the choir, who have been in it from the beginning.

“We have chosen songs they have done in the past.

“I gave a list to the choir of what I reckoned was the best songs and they got to choose what they perform.”

Former choir members and soloists who have moved from the area have been invited back for the concerts, which take place on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16, at 7.30pm in East Linton Community Hall.

Tickets, £10 for adults and £5 for children 12 and under, are available from The Mart.