Featured Singer: Nigel Barham
Nigel is a local lad with a wide range of interests and aspirations. Born in Bearsted, and educated at Thurnham, North Borough and Maidstone Grammar School, Nigel has lived most of his life in Bearsted.
After leaving MGS, Nigel took a thin sandwich degree course in Civil Engineering at City University which involved working with Tilbury Construction. After graduating Nigel moved into contract management, becoming a Major Works Contract Manager and achieving Chartered Engineer status. A significant career switch saw Nigel move into the field of loss adjusting and he became a Chartered Loss Adjuster and expert on subsidence – somehow appropriate given Bearsted’s geology and the associated risks! Nigel has worked for the leading loss adjusting firms in the UK, was until recently the Director of Building Services at GAB Robins and is a past chair of the UK Subsidence Forum. He is now cutting back on work commitments – theoretically working a 4 day week – but Angela will tell you otherwise!
Nigel was first married in 1982 and has three grown up children. He met and has been with his current wife, Angela for 10 years. They share common interests which they intend to exploit as they both hope to have more time. Nigel is a Francophile, has friends in France going back to school days and he and Angela have recently bought a small property in Normandy to which they often disappear for weekends and holidays. He is also keen caravanner, walker and cyclist (he aims to walk/run at least 30 minutes per day).
Nigel’s musical life was nurtured at home. Dad was a drummer with the ATC and Nigel was encouraged to learn the piano, and much later he played the organ. Singing however was his forte. With a clear treble voice he was in both Northborough and MGS school choirs. He joined All Saints choir, often singing solo parts and Peter Morse their choir master was an important influence. At this time he was closely involved with the Royal School of Church Music this including a two week period one summer singing the services at Canterbury Cathedral.
At one stage, Nigel had aspirations for a career in music but teenage priorities changed that. Music however has remained a central part of his life, and upon completion of his degree he was heavily involved in the musical life of Maidstone. He was a founding member of Bearsted Choral Society, later joined the Concorde Singers (Dennis Loveland) and has performed as a tenor soloist for local choral societies. Since 1985 he has had an involvement with Rochester Cathedral, initially as a deputy lay clerk and then as part of the Cathedral Voluntary Choir – touring with them on three occasions to the USA. In 1998 he joined The Maidstone Singers.
Nigel has an eclectic musical taste. Amongst his classical favourites are the Passions by Bach and music from the late Victorian/Early 20 century. However his interests are not limited to the classical repertoire and he has confessed a desire to turn his hand to singing some swing numbers! Anticipating retirement he would also like to try his hand at composition – in the modern choral vogue. Perhaps an opportunity for mutual benefit!
