AFFETSIDE Choir's new musical director, Dr Robert Aston, has a sharp sense of humour, writes Doreen Crowther.

And when the choir appealed through Centre Stage for a new musical director following the resignation of Clive Rushworth because of work and family commitments, they named that attribute as essential.

Robert came forward and suggested a trial period. He and the choir were clearly compatible and, as I saw in rehearsal, are working well together.

It is an appropriate time for Robert to take over. Because during a similar period 16 years ago, a group of parents with children at Affetside School got together with conductor Mike Pinder to sing carols. And the Affetside Choir was born.

There are now 65 people on the choir's roll and between about 40 and 45 perform in concerts and sing at weddings and on other occasions.

"Performing music is all about enjoyment," Robert said.

He puts this into practice and rehearsals are fun.

That is not to say he isn't a hard taskmaster.

He is strict about punctuality and he won't tolerate chatting during rehearsals.

"That can be very distracting," Robert said.

Affetside Choir has an extensive repertoire and Robert intends to extend it further.

He hopes to stretch rehearsal times from two to two and a half hours and introduce music reading sessions before they start.

Robert comes to the choir with an excellent musical background.

He plays piano, viola and organ and is well known in Bolton as an accompanist and recitalist.

He has worked with many societies and chamber ensembles in the North-west and for several years as repetiteur for the Manchester University Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

For several years he was organist at St Joseph's Church, Stockport.

He has been music director for the Bolton Catholic Musical and Choral Society and conductor of the South Manchester Symphony Orchestra. He is chairman of the Bolton Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta.

But he describes his singing as: "Like a bullfrog".

Although Robert has a busy professional life -- he's the Medical Officer responsible for Communicable Disease Control and Environmental Medicine for Bolton and Wigan -- he has promised that, where possible, his choir commitments will be "sacrosanct".

One of his plans for the choir is for them to "cross the border" into Bolton. Their current engagements all tend to be in Bury and district.

The choir has formal uniforms and less formal attire, depending on where they are singing. They sometimes provide music at weddings and anniversary parties.

They have a busy schedule as Christmas approaches and already have four concerts booked for the New Year.

On December 10, they are singing at Radcliffe Civic Hall with Besses' Band.

I can vouch that they are well worth hearing. During the part of the rehearsal I sat in, they sang Loved Walked In, The Rhythm of Life and a carol composed by Robert for the choir.

All were beautifully sung.

Choir chairman Jackie Kay told me there was wonderful repartee between Robert and their pianist, Chris Idle.

It is evidence of the affection that their new musical director is held in that she was able to say, in his hearing: "They are like Laurel and Hardy."

Like many singing groups, Affetside choir is short of men.

If anyone is interested in joining and receiving more information about the choir, they should contact Jackie Kay on 01204 852410.