RAISING the roof for their 40th birthday were chorus group Cascade of Catherington, who also have singers from Petersfield in their ranks.

It is four decades since the Ladies Association of British Barbershop (LABBS) was formed, and the Cascade group is one of its 50 groups across the country.

The members of Cascade, who rehearse every Wednesday evening at All Saints Hall, were delighted to host a party to celebrate this milestone.

They extended the invitation to their fellow singers in Cosham-based The Pitchpipers, Wight Satin from the Isle of Wight, and many members of the Guildford Harmony.

At the party they had a ‘Beacon of Harmony’ from LABBS, in the form of a scroll, which is being passed to each chorus countrywide over this anniversary year.

“We love the opportunity to socialise as much as to sing, so chorus members made bunting, prepared food and baked what seemed like hundreds of cupcakes,” said Caroline Clack, of Cascade.

And, of course, they couldn’t resist an en masse sing song which was “just magical”.