BORDERS choristers have lost a shining light following the death of Helen Furness (née Eileen Clarey) on March 30, at the age of 82. Peeblesshire resident Helen always had a passion for music, and her father’s “fine bass voice” inspired her to create her own male voice choir in the Borders. Born on April 28, 1938 in the Isle of Man, Helen grew up in the island’s Ramsey where she and her parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. It was here that Helen began her life-long love of music – playing the organ and singing. As a teenager, Helen, her parents and two younger sisters – Kathleen and Margaret – moved to Regaby, also in the island, where they ran a smallholding.
Helen Furness, of Walkerburn, died on Tuesday, March 30. She was the founder and musical director of Tweed Valley Male Voices (TVMV) and was also the organist for the church choir of Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair. Born in 1938 in Ramsey, the Isle of Man, Mrs Furness had always had a love for music. Commenting on Mrs Furness s contribution to Peeblesshire, her son Jamie said: “She was a pillar of the community. “She really put the fun in singing – she had people who were 100 years old singing away. “She had the ability to make it fun for older people to enjoy singing.”