John Emms
Patriotic choruses of Land of Hope and Glory could be heard emanating from the Ecumenical Centre as nearly 100 people gathered for a singsong to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Members of the Redditch Darby and Joan Club invited town entertainer John Emms to accompany their enthusiastic singing on the piano last week.
Mr Emms said: "It was an absolutely wonderful event and everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
"I thought it was a perfect way to remember and celebrate the anniversary of the ending of the war."
Memories of an entertainer - Alan Styler
A Redditch entertainer has shared his memories of a singer who progressed from performances in the back streets of Redditch to commanding the world's musical stage.
Alan Styler (pictured), son of Madge Styler, a popular singer intown operatic circles, was born in 1925 and lived in Birchfield Road, Headless Cross.
He received his singing training from well-known local voice coach Mavis Bennett and in his teenage years would often giveprivate performances in the Seven Stars pub for landlady Violet Davis.
When 17, he joined the Grenadier Guards. After being demobilised in 1946 he worked for a short time at a local electricity company and was very active on the Redditch entertainment scene.
One of the lucky people to work with Mr Styler during his early career was Redditch comedian Colin Wheeler.
Mr Styler appeared in a show at the Temperance Hall in Worcester Road, later renamed the Kingfisher Hall, during which Mr Wheeler was compere.
This was no easy task for the comedian as there was a second Alan Styler on the bill who was also a singer.
During his time at the electricity company Mr Styler made a life-changing decision - to become a professional singer.
He joined the internationally renowned D'Oyly Carte Opera Company a year later and started in the chorus before earning the right to play principle roles, wowing crowds in America, Canada and Britain.
He had leading roles in HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe and many others.
Despite often being surrounded by hundreds of adoring female fans Mr Styler chose to marry Vera Ryan, a fellow D'Oyly Carte
member who was in the company from 1959-61 and 1966-67.
Mr Wheeler said: "Although we were near neighbours he was much older than me and we were involved in different areas of the local entertainment scene.
"I remember him as an extremely handsome man and he must have broken many young girls' hearts when he married.
"It was obvious from an early stage that due to the rich quality of his voice he was always destined to be a great singer."
After ill health and a lung operation, Mr Styler's doctor said he should quit touring and in 1968 at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre the curtain finally came down on his career.
After continuing to battle illness, Mr Styler died two years later in Manchester aged 45.