TWO men with 140 years of dedication to Lancashire choirs between them have been celebrated at Blackburn Cathedral.

Harry Dickinson and Eric Dunne were recognised during the Royal School of Church Music’s Festival.

Mr Dickinson, 87, of Church, began as a treble bass at St James’ Mission in Clayton-le-Moors aged seven “because the whole family went to church and you did as you were told”.

The experience then developed a life-long passion for the music which has inspired two more generations of his family to become involved at All Saint’s Church, Clayton-le-Moors, where he now sings twice a week.

He said: “There’s no profession like it, you are part of a choir man and boy.

“When you’re in the choir the music gets into your blood, you soak it up and you can’t refrain from it.

“For me going to rehersals and to church on a Sunday is the same enjoyment as a chap going to a football match on a Saturday, but you have to be much more committed. “The choir is an office of the church, it’s extremely important.”

Mr Dickinson’s daughter Christina Regan is director of the choir at All Saints while sister Paulette Smith is an alto, and their five children aged from 23 to 15 all regularly sing together in the choir.

Mrs Regan said: “He is an inspiration to all of us. If he hadn’t have done this, then none of us would.”

Mr Dunne, 74, of Hoghton, has notched up 60 years as an organist and choir master at churches across Lancashire.

He was inspired to follow in his father John’s footsteps after sitting on the organist’s chair as a young boy in St Mary’s Church, Waterloo, Liverpool.

After moving to Preston in the 1960s, he has been a part of several choirs across the Lancashire area, including St George’s Church in Chorley, and has been involved with the Lancashire branch of the Royal School of Church Music since 1963.

The retired newspaper design draftsman said: “For me the enjoyment is being in a full church with everybody singing and you’re there, being part of it.

“It’s a very nice surprise to be invited to the service and to be recognised in this way.”