The ‘lifeline’ emergency services choir set up as ‘singing is good for the soul and mind’

Among the family of People’s Show Choirs is a small but very special group of ‘blue light’ singers. Enthusiastic members of the Choir Brigade from West Midlands Fire Service are familiar faces at massed concerts by The People’s Orchestra(TPO).

We take a closer look at this fascinating emergency services singing group with one of its members, Tania Hale. She explains the important reason it was set up and how it is proving a “lifeline” to many after they leave a long career with the service.

Tania loves nothing more than to sing and is also a member of The People’s Show Choir in West Bromwich alongside her 24-year-old daughter Chloe Hale. She’s also devoted to her job after working at West Midlands Fire Service as a Recruitment and Selection Advisor for 20 years.

“No two days are the same in my job at the Fire Service and I love meeting and talking to people,” said Tania. “I got involved with our Fire Brigade Workplace Choir as it also supports the physical and mental wellbeing of our employees.

“It’s somewhere that existing staff and those who’ve retired can come along to and enjoy.

“It started out as a wellbeing initiative as singing is good for the soul and mind, especially as we work in an intense and heavy environment here at the Fire Service.

“Yet there’s much more chitter chatter, a lot of belly laughs and random conversations… plus a bit of singing.”

Retired firefighters and other staff are among those keen to join in the choir and Tania understands well how being part of a community music group benefits them after leaving work. There are far more rewards than simply singing.

“For the retired members who come back, it’s a lifeline for them,” added Tania. “It’s about being back with the service that some of them spent 30 years working in.

“That’s a massive part of their life. These big institutions are like a family for many. A lot of people really struggle when they retire in finding their place and purpose.

“The Fire Service was their life for a long time and in the choir, they can still feel that they represent it.

“One lady travels two hours for our hour practice session because it means so much to her, that’s why we’re so special.

“What’s nice is that West Midlands Fire Service appreciates using us whenever there is a celebration, like a passing out parade or at Christmas-time for a Carol Concert. We feel very much part of the service.”

Linking up with The People’s Orchestra and People’s Show Choirs – including with TPO Community Engagement Manager Chris Weber – has opened new doors to the intimate workplace choir. Doors to venues like majestic Birmingham Symphony Hall, where they performed with 500 others as part of TPO’s Back to the Movies charity mass concert on Mother’s Day in March 2025 that you can read about here.

“We’re only small – normally about nine of us at a rehearsal – so getting to join in the massed concert events with The People’s Orchestra and other People’s Show Choirs allows us to have the best of both worlds,” explains Tania.

“We always try to have 100% attendance at those mass concerts as it’s special for us to meet and be performing with so many other singers. Many of us went to Poland on the People’s Show Choir trip to Krakow too.”

“It’s very much a social choir and we’d celebrate the opening of an envelope,” chuckles Tania. “We’re always going for drinks and food together. You can probably tell that our choir is way more than just singing.”

Find a People’s Show Choir to suit you here. Contact The People’s Show Choir if you are interested in joining, call 0121 569 2616 or email [email protected].