A FOLK band formed by four Darlington school teachers has announced a spring concert as they celebrate 50-years of performing together.

From their first performance in Darlington in February 1972 until today, Fourum have appeared in venues ranging from village halls to full houses in Darlington’s Hippodrome and Richmond’s Georgian theatres.

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Appearances on national TV on such programmes as ‘Highway’ and ‘The Dales’ have particularly highlighted the group’s original songs, penned by Allen Miller, a founder member, and by also bassist, Rod Hall, which capture local history, legends and characters of the area.

The band was originally founded by four teachers from Hummersknott School in Darlington.

Two of those founding members, Allen Miller and Jim Jack, are still with the band and they were joined in 1978 by Sandy Still and in 1992 by Rod Hall.

Regular readers of the Northern Echo and the D&S Times will have seen their exploits reported over the years.

Many concerts have been dedicated to raising money for charitable causes.

The death of founder member Bob Hattersley in 2010 due to kidney cancer led the band to focus their efforts on raising money for the South Tees Hospital charity ‘Cutting Edge’ which supports robotic surgery developments at the hospital.

Sales of Bob’s original maps which were featured in the Northern Echo and in ITV’s ‘The Dales’ programme, alongside proceeds from book and CD sales have pushed the total close to £20,000.

Band spokesman Jim Jack said: "We would love to cross the £20,000 threshold by the end of this golden jubilee year as our own tribute to Bob."

Their first major concert since lockdown sees the group performing at St Mary’s Church in Richmond on Friday March 18 at 7pm.

The band will reprise some of their own well-loved Dales songs alongside music drawn from Scottish, Irish and North-East traditions.

Supported by a full visual presentation alongside the music, their own brand of humour and close harmony singing, the band will also be performing at festivals in the area across 2022.

Tickets for the March 18 concert are £7.50 each available from Neeps & Tatties or Castle Hill Books in Richmond Market Place, by phoning 07754-283161 or on the door on the evening.

Proceeds are being shared between the ‘Cutting Edge’ charity and St Mary’s Church development work.

 

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