This packed issue focuses on music in the Garden City. Since its foundation in 1920, our town has been alive with music, and we have lots of fascinating contributions which reflect this. Thank you to everyone who has written for us!

We realize, of course, that we haven’t covered every genre of music, let alone every local society making or appreciating music. We wish we could have included more, but our limited number of pages restricts us.

We feature contributions from two music-making organizations. The Welwyn Garden City Music Society consists of both a choir and an orchestra and was founded in 1921. It’s the town’s oldest society! Welwyn Harmony, Hertfordshire’s only ladies’ barbershop chorus, is newer but nevertheless has more than 30 years of singing to its credit.

The Welwyn Garden Concert Club describes its long and vibrant history of bringing distinguished musicians to perform in our town, while a number of local residents recall the fun and excitement of “The Hop”: going to hear, dance to, or perform in bands at Woodhall Community Centre. Many of our older members will know that some famous bands performed in Welwyn Garden City before they became really well known. Clive Wilson’s article about The Sex Pistols shows how their performance here in 1976 led to greater renown – and notoriety!