They have racked up almost nine decades of singing between them, and now two senior members of the Warley Male Choir are leading the call for more men to sign up.

Brian Boyle, 78, of Halesowen, joined the group in 1953 and sang until six years ago when he became the music librarian, while Dave Waplington, 62, of Oldbury is currently the longest serving singing member having joined in January 1969.

They have enjoyed seeing the choir grow, with travel abroad to countries such as Holland and Germany. Today, in a bid to encourage more singers and modern audiences, the group’s concert programme mixes traditional pieces with the likes of The Beatles and Queen.

Now a recruitment drive has been launched to encourage more men to join. The group was formed in 1943 by a group of air-raid wardens in West Smethwick and was named the A3 Wardens Male Voice Choir. It changed its name to the West Smethwick Male Voice Choir in 1951 and then Warley Male Choir in 1966. There have been three conductors, the founder Bernard Martin from 1943 to 1952, Bill Jones from 1952 to 2004, and Steve Allen who is still currently in post. He is joined by deputy musical director and choir accompanist John Barber and Helen Parker.

Highlights include reaching the last 16 from 250 in the Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year competition in 1984 and staging the first massed male voice choir at the Symphony Hall.

Mr Waplington, a retired electrical supervisor, from Parkfield Road, will celebrate 40 years with the group next month. He said: “I went to my first rehearsal in November 1968 and was accepted as a member in January 1969. The fellowship and the friendship in the group was wonderful and that is one of the things that hasn’t changed at all. What we need is more younger men in the singing team.”

Brian, of Whittingham Road, who is a retired self-employed designer first joined up 55 years ago but when he lost his singing voice he took over as the group’s music librarian.

He said: “My favourite thing is still meeting up with them all and still being part of it. We are all excited that the three-strong music team is leading us in a new direction and the group is singing new music.”

The choir carries out around 15 concerts a year and meets every Thursday at Warley Woods Methodist Church. Its first meeting in the New Year is January 8 at 7.30pm.