Voices are raised in a South Yorkshire pit village once a year, and it all ends up in hospital. But this is no argument. On the contrary, it's all very harmonious. The little mining community of Mapplewell & Staincross raises its communal voice in song, in aid of local hospital comfort funds. Such events used to be commonplace in South Yorkshire villages, but this is the only one in which the annual Victorian tradition still takes place. Yorkshire Television visits the event in its...

Voices are raised in a South Yorkshire pit village once a year, and it all ends up in hospital. But this is no argument. On the contrary, it's all very harmonious. The little mining community of Mapplewell & Staincross raises its communal voice in song, in aid of local hospital comfort funds. Such events used to be commonplace in South Yorkshire villages, but this is the only one in which the annual Victorian tradition still takes place. Yorkshire Television visits the event in its centenary year, along with Mexborough-born actor Brian Blessed who revisits the scenes of his youth. The film begins with a view over the villages of Mapplewell and Staincross, with Mapplewell & Staincross village school seen through pit winding gear in the background.  It then homes in on the Hospital Sing 1986, taking place outdoors with a choir singing the end of the "Alleluia Chorus," standing on a raised platform surrounded by a large seated audience.  Next at a meeting of the Mapplewell and Staincross Hospital and Comfort Fund Committee, the chairman introduces the subject of the Hospital Sing.  Brian Blessed, wearing a colourful sweater, observes the meeting from the side, and gives an account of the history of the Fund and the tradition of singing.  The film shows views of the North Gawber colliery and of the village, including the village school playground crowded with children playing. At the North Gawber Miners Welfare Club, inside a group of miners, smoking and drinking, sit chatting with Brian Blessed, talking about changes to the village, and of mining, and about the tradition of singing.  There is a male choir in the club practising, and there is an interview with Arthur Rowe about singing in the old days at the pit.  He is joined by fellow miner Clarence Ibberson, both reminiscing with others, with stories about how they would sing going up and down the lift shaft.  The pair of them gives a demonstration of singing in harmony.   This is followed by an interview with a woman about the men’s singing. Brian Blessed joins in singing in opera style.  Again there are images of Mapplewell and its chapels, with Brian Blessed explaining the link between Methodism and singing, showing the sign for Greenside Methodist Church, Staincross.  The Mapplewell pithead, street signs, and several shops are shown, including the butchers shop, florists and hardware shop.  It then moves on to show views of a derelict nail-making factory workshop, with Brian Blessed giving an account of the importance of nail making in the history of the area, and interviewing ex-nail maker Cliff Carter, recounting his memories of making nails and singing, and then singing a hymn.  This is followed by an interview with Norman Rimington walking through a yard and reminiscing about going to chapel as a child. The film switches again to the home of test umpire Dicky Bird in Staincross, who also recounts his memories of singing.  We then see several other choirs practising, including a women’s choir, a children’s choir and a mixed choir.  We are shown some archive artefacts of music blocks, with a group of men and women talking about the choirs.  Four members of the Shaw family sing a hymn.  Brian Blessed then interviews a music expert about the kinds of hymns that the community would traditionally sing.  After this we see Ben Ibberson conducting the choirs in the Hospital to audience applause.  Doug Robinson from Sing Committee visits Ben Ibberson at his home and they sing together at his piano.  Back at the Hospital Sing parade, in wet weather, crowds have gathered. Brian Blessed arrives with Dicky Bird in an old Rolls Royce.  There are decorated floats and people in costume. At Mapplewell Junior School there is an exhibition of 100 Years Of Village Life, with people studying the displays of old photos.  Back at the parade children are dancing round maypole holding ribbons, with a large crowd watching, including Brian Blessed and Dicky Bird.  Workmen are erecting a stand for the choir as the audience is arriving and taking seats.  The film finishes with the compere and Brian Blessed introducing the Centenary Sing, with the audience clapping for the Choir.  Title - Yorkshire Television Production