History
The Bromley Barbershop Harmony Club (BBHC aka The Kentones) was founded in November 1975 by Ron Mesure.
A BBC TV programme about a convention of barbershop singing in America impressed him so much that, with information from the BBC, and support from Barrie Best at SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.) now simply, BHS (Barbershop Harmony Society),
Dale Gaus, a visiting American singer with the famous Barbershop group, Vocal Majority, Chuck O’Dom and 12 members of a new Barbershop Club in Brighton, and help from SPEBSQSA, Ron placed a recruitment advert in the local paper.
The first meeting was held in the Star and Garter Public House on Friday 26th September 1975 and soon afterwards, BBHC was formally constituted and joined BABS (British Association of Barbershop Singers) as an early member, We will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary Concert on 18 October 2025.
Dale Gaus went back to America after about 3 weeks, and about a month later the Club moved to the Holwood Hall, Bromley. Chris Field, a music teacher at Dulwich College, directed the Chorus at its first Convention Prelims at Birmingham the following year. But after a disastrous result, mainly due to a low stage presence mark, he argued about judging standards with the senior officers at the British Association of Barbershop Singers and then left the Club. John Mesure acted as Chorus Director initially. A ladies group, Velvet Harmony (VH) started shortly, and John directed them too. The husband of a member of VH, Graham Till, expressed an interest in directing Bromley and took over in 1977.
Since then, the Kentones have evolved, maintained and grown its membership (especially after the pandemic) and had a number of talented Music Directors, most of whom are still actively involved in the Barbershop Comminuty either in quartets and/or choirs elsewhere in the country. We have performed at almost all the annual BABS Conventions over the years and also at events in Holland. Whilst we have not been finalists, our performances at Convention have always been robust, confident and enjoyable, especially meeting and singing with other like-minded singers from across the country.
Earlier this year, we performed in Apeeldorn, Holland and were winners of the Most Entertaining Award.
A BBC TV programme about a convention of barbershop singing in America impressed him so much that, with information from the BBC, and support from Barrie Best at SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.) now simply, BHS (Barbershop Harmony Society),
Dale Gaus, a visiting American singer with the famous Barbershop group, Vocal Majority, Chuck O’Dom and 12 members of a new Barbershop Club in Brighton, and help from SPEBSQSA, Ron placed a recruitment advert in the local paper.
The first meeting was held in the Star and Garter Public House on Friday 26th September 1975 and soon afterwards, BBHC was formally constituted and joined BABS (British Association of Barbershop Singers) as an early member, We will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary Concert on 18 October 2025.
Dale Gaus went back to America after about 3 weeks, and about a month later the Club moved to the Holwood Hall, Bromley. Chris Field, a music teacher at Dulwich College, directed the Chorus at its first Convention Prelims at Birmingham the following year. But after a disastrous result, mainly due to a low stage presence mark, he argued about judging standards with the senior officers at the British Association of Barbershop Singers and then left the Club. John Mesure acted as Chorus Director initially. A ladies group, Velvet Harmony (VH) started shortly, and John directed them too. The husband of a member of VH, Graham Till, expressed an interest in directing Bromley and took over in 1977.
Since then, the Kentones have evolved, maintained and grown its membership (especially after the pandemic) and had a number of talented Music Directors, most of whom are still actively involved in the Barbershop Comminuty either in quartets and/or choirs elsewhere in the country. We have performed at almost all the annual BABS Conventions over the years and also at events in Holland. Whilst we have not been finalists, our performances at Convention have always been robust, confident and enjoyable, especially meeting and singing with other like-minded singers from across the country.
Earlier this year, we performed in Apeeldorn, Holland and were winners of the Most Entertaining Award.
