As the nation prepares to celebrate the Queen' s 50 years on the throne this summer, Burneside Choral Society is looking ahead to its very own Golden Jubilee.

Choir members will be celebrating half-a-century of music and friendship at their anniversary concert at Burneside's Bryce Institute next Thursday, at 7.15pm.

The first recorded mention of the choir dates back to 1870, when the conductor was Richard Savage, who was also church organist, choir master and worked for Croppers paper mill.

Suspended during the First World War, the choir restarted as Burneside Choral Society with Beatrice Willink as conductor.

Sadly she collapsed and died at the festival competitions in 1924.

The Wings of Song banner designed and worked on fabric from her wedding dress was presented to the festival in her memory and, after her death, was given back to Burneside to hang in St Oswald's Church.

The choir lapsed after the Second World War, and was revived in 1952 with headmaster Leslie Wilson as conductor, and May Dobson as accompanist.

She will be in the audience at the anniversary concert, and past conductor Albert Mason will be in the choir.

The choir will also be welcoming back James Wilkinson as soloist.

He sang in several choirs in Cumbria - including Burneside, alongside his mother - before moving away to Cupar, in Fife, to manage the bookbinding department for the universities of St Andrews and Dundee.

He is now principal tenor in Cupar Choral Society.

As conductor Moira Hall explained, the concert will begin - appropriately in this Golden Jubilee year - with Coronation anthem Zadok the Priest followed by Hiawatha's Wedding Feast.

"We always love singing it - it's a really fun piece to sing, it's bright and exciting," said Moira.

Tickets for next Thursday's concert - £ 3.50 adults, £1 children, including refreshments - are available on the door or from choir members.