In 1948, a group of men belonging to Gledholt Methodist Church formed a double male quartet under the leadership of Joe Ripley and with Marcus Draper as the pianist to sing at local churches, old people's homes, hospitals, etc. Gradually the original double quartet expanded to become, first the Gledholt Glee Singers, next the Ripley Singers for two years, and finally the Gledholt Male Voice Choir.

Joe Ripley retired as Conductor in 1977 when Malcolm Fairless was appointed as Musical Director.

Malcolm Fairless was appointed Musical Director in 1977. He is a native of County Durham and he started his male voice choir experience in his early teens. He was for some time Organist and Choirmaster at Bede College, Durham University before 'emigrating' to Huddersfield in the early 70's. Here, he quickly joined Huddersfield Choral Society, was a member of the Karalian Quartet and in regular demand as tenor soloist. He joined Gledholt MVC as a First Tenor in 1972 and, in those early days, he was also a member of Skelmanthorpe MVC,eventually being appointed their Deputy Conductor.

The choir, numbering 60 singing members rehearses at Lindley Methodist Church Centre, Huddersfield each Tuesday evening and potential new members are always welcome. The Choir's repertoire varies widely and now includes arrangements of popular songs from the Shows as well as traditional male voice items, music from the Opera and religious works. This broadly based repertoire ensures interest in rehearsals and is essential for the planning of programmes for public performances. The Choir fulfils regular concert engagements both locally and further afield having sung in Settle, Keswick, Bradford Cathedral, Bridlington Priory, Scarborough Spa Theatre, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Fountains Abbey, Pudsey Civic Hall, Manston (Leeds), Boston Spa, Shifnal, Wellington (Salop), York Minster, Royal Albert Hall and Llanfyllin.

The Choir is justly proud of initiating and organising - for 10 years - the National Male Voice Choir Championships which broke new ground for the whole choir movement. In July 1997, the Choir competed at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. The latest highlight has been the completion in May 1997 of its first exchange with an overseas choir - the very talented male voice choir from Besancon, Eastern France - Les Chenestrels. This involved four concerts on consecutive evenings in the district of Franche-Comte during a memorable week's visit in 1998. A recording has been made to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Choir and it is available on CD and Cassette, together with other items of memorabilia.

PAUL A IREDALE-Conductor
Paul was appointed Musical Director of Gledholt Male Voice Choir in January 2006 and served until May 2008.