Apologies for me being in the picture – taken at Llandudno
Dec 14 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
ONE of the leading lights in Huddersfield’s music world has died.
Leonard Williams, 67, was the founder of the hugely-successful New Mill Male Voice Choir and also taught music to many hundreds of Huddersfield teenagers.
Mr Williams, formerly of Holmfirth and Skelmanthorpe, passed away after an illness on Sunday, December 12, at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
He was a proud Welshman, born in 1943 in Penrhiwllan, South Wales. His mother Lilian and father Harold looked after the local Welsh Methodist chapel and they lived in the chapel house. His father was a lead soloist and led the local choir.
After moving to Yorkshire, Mr Williams was well known as the founder of the New Mill Male Voice Choir, achieving success all over the North of England and on choir visits to Europe.
He was one of the youngest-ever winners of The National Eisteddfod Cardiff at the age of 18 as a baritone.
He won a scholarship to The Manchester College of Music and went on to sing with many of the great operatic soloists and operatic choruses.
He was so proud to have sung and be acquainted with Pavarotti, Edgar Evans, Stuart Burrows, Walter Widdop and many more. He worked with the famous conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Sir John Barbarelli.
Mr Williams spent many years working as a peripatetic music teacher with high schools across Kirklees.
He was also a music teacher for many at Wakefield Girl’s High School. His pupils included many prize-winners and contestants in The Mrs Sunderland Music Festival in Huddersfield.
He will be remembered for his powerful contributions to local music and the arts.
He leaves a widow Catherine and a six-year-old grandson Charlie, who sang solo at a concert at St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield, on the evening of his grandfather’s death.
Mr Williams’ daughter Angharad sadly died some years ago.
A funeral service takes place on Friday, December 17, at 10.45am at St. John’s Church, Upperthong Lane, Upperthong. It will be followed by cremation at Huddersfield at noon.
Charity donations are being taken for Kirkwood Hospice.
