The local band which had a combined age of 423 and went down a storm with Buckingham Palace
This memory from ten years ago certainly struck a chord and it centres on a music group with a combined age of 423.
Back in 2016, Harmony For You from Whitburn were staging their own Queen’s birthday celebrations with a new song they penned in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
This week in 2016 marked the Queen’s 90th birthday and the group were planning to perform in their home village.
The group wrote She Still Reigns and were set to perform it for visitors to Whitburn Library on the day she reached her 90th birthday.
The song had already won recognition from Buckingham Palace, with the monarch sending the band a letter.
Bill Quigley, 76, on guitar and whistle, said at the time: "I asked the lady in the library if we could go along and play music for the Queen’s birthday, and she said she would like that.
"I thought we must do something for the Queen’s birthday and that’s why I suggested it to her.
"I think the Queen is brilliant, I really do, and that’s why I wrote the songs for her.
"It’s got a bit of a baroque feel to it, but it’s also modern."
By 2016, the group had been going for five years. The band members also included Jean Watson, 69, on vocals, and Joan Carter, 69, singer and mandolin.
Also in Harmony For You were Alan Steele, 67, singer and song composer, Jim Gillies, 59, on guitar and piano and Norma Bolingbroke, 83, on piano and keyboards.
The letter from the Queen’s lady in waiting to Bill said: "The Queen wishes me to thank you , and the members of your singing group for your letter enclosing a CD of a song you have composed.
"The Queen was pleased to hear from you again and to know that you continue to enjoy singing together and entertaining others."
The band made regular visits to care homes, hospitals, churches and Women’s Institute groups and specialised in tracks from the 1950s through to the late 1970s, especially pop songs and old standards.
But there was slight setback to their musical journey. Their entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, If a Voice Could Reach That Far, was rejected.
We would love to hear from anyone with memories of Harmony For You. Email [email protected] to tell us more.