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Choir named world's oldest during Christmas concert

Runwood Homes A group of elderly choir members gathered around Tony Christie and Carl Saville, who is holding a Guinness World Record certificate. Runwood Homes
Guinness World Records adjudicator Carl Saville and Tony Christie (both centre) attended the concert

A choir with an average age of 94 have sung their way into the record books as they have been crowned the oldest in the world.

The Prime Timers, made up of 17 members from seven care homes in Warwickshire, broke the Guinness World Record during a Christmas carol concert in Stratford-upon-Avon on Thursday.

The singers, aged between 87 and 99, were joined at the Crowne Plaza Hotel by Tony Christie and the show was hosted by actor Sian Reeves, who advocates for therapeutic use of music.

The choir's average age is three years older than the previous record holder, St John's House in York, which had held it since 2013.

Speaking before the performance, member Chris Righton, 91, said he felt OK and did not have any nerves.

"You can't have nerves. You've got rid of them all by the time you're 90," he added.

He said breaking the world record was "really quite something for a group of people over 90".

An elderly man who is mostly bald but with white hair at the back of his head, sitting at a table, which he is leaning on with his right arm. He is wearing a red shirt with a blue circle on with the words Prime Timers, World's Oldest Choir.
Chris Righton, 91, said he was not nervous at all before the concert

"When we started off with this, I must admit I didn't take it very seriously but now we've got to this end of the event, the chance to do something like this for people who are 90 or more is really exceptional," he said.

Ahead of the event, Jasmine Kessey, deputy home manager at Runwood Homes, which runs the seven care homes, said rehearsals had gone well but she was feeling nervous.

"I think everyone else is excited but I'm definitely feeling the pressure right now so fingers crossed we can do it and it will be over soon," she added.

The World’s Oldest Choir in Stratford Upon Avon

The Prime Timers sang a number of festive favourites including Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Silent Night.

The concert also included Christmas Through The Years - a song written and released by The Prime Timers alongside arts organisation Intergenerational Music Making.

The choir were then presented with their certificate by Guinness World Records adjudicator Carl Saville.

A smiling woman with long reddish brown hair and a dark sequined top. Behind her are people sat at tables.
Jasmine Kessey, of Runwood Homes, admitted to being nervous before the concert

Following the confirmation, choir member Christopher Huddleston said: "It's been a great honour and a remarkable day.

"Few of us at any age get to have an attempt at a world record, let alone at 90 or more and on the same bill as Tony Christie. It has been quite something."

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