Guitar man Alan completes marathon music challenge

Dozens of well wishers turned out to watch retired singer Alan Scholes sing his way through 70 songs to mark his 70th birthday.
Alan Scholes entertains his audience at Mount Zion Church, Cliviger as part of his 70 songs for his 70th birthday fund raising event.Alan Scholes entertains his audience at Mount Zion Church, Cliviger as part of his 70 songs for his 70th birthday fund raising event.
Alan Scholes entertains his audience at Mount Zion Church, Cliviger as part of his 70 songs for his 70th birthday fund raising event.

And Alan was in such fine voice he managed to sing an incredible 90 songs in the five hour session at Cliviger's Mount Zion Church.

He said: "It was a great day and in the end I managed to fit in 90 songs to raise £1,000 which was incredible."

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Alan kicked off the session with songs he learned from his grandfather and his set list included many of his favourites growing up, through his school and college life and later when he worked as a teacher at the the former Barden High School in Burnley for 32 years.

Alan has also been involved in gospel and folk music groups over the years and his repertoire included a selection from these days.

Along with his trusty guitar he was joined at various times throughout the day by other singers to help ease the burden on his voice.

Alan came up with the idea for the sing-a-thon as something different to help raise money towards the church extension fund. Plans are in place to build the extension which will become a community space and will include a lift as many people struggle to negotiate the 20 steps leading up to the church.

The final bill for the extension stands at £280,000 and so far around £96,000 has been raised.

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