Our President and Vice-Presidents are prominent members of the local community. They act as ambassadors for Sittingbourne Orpheus Choral Society and are regular supporters of our events. 

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President 

Pauline Panton, BEM

Our President of many years, Pauline Panton, is a Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (LGSM). She is the Founder and President of the Friends of Tunstall Church and a Trustee of Tunstall Village Memorial Hall, as well as President of the Sittingbourne and Milton branch of the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men. For the last fifty years, in her spare time, she has run her own farm in Tunstall.

In 2016, Pauline was awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to the community in Tunstall and Sittingbourne. She is an enthusiastic and stalwart supporter of many local arts and music societies and is always to be found in the front row of the audience at SOCS concerts.

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Vice-Presidents 

Alderman Duncan Dewar-Whalley

Duncan was for ten years Cabinet Member for Finance at Swale Borough Council. He has served as Chair of Governors at St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Sittingbourne and St Edward’s Catholic Primary School, Sheerness, and is currently a Trustee of the William Barrow’s Charity and of the Queenborough Fishery Trust. In the latter stages of his career he was a fire safety consultant, advising on procedures related to terrorist activities.

As a supporter of the arts, Duncan has been the Chair of Brenchley House Players and a member of Bowater Players. Over the last 22 years he has visited schools, residential homes and various organisations throughout Kent and London in the role of Father Christmas. He has attended all but one SOCS performance since 1982.

Judith Buckle AGSM

Judith has had a varied career, both on stage and the concert platform, and as a singing teacher and coach. She is an Associate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was a finalist in both the National Federation of Music Societies’ Award and the Incorporated Society of Musicians’ Young Musicians Scheme. She was an ad hoc member of the BBC Singers before joining the London Savoyards on their QE2 world cruises, performing Gilbert & Sullivan. 

Judith made her London debut with The London Mozart Players in Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, followed by Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise at The Royal Albert Hall and Sea Pictures at the Royal Festival Hall. Her operatic career began with Pavilion Opera and she has since performed more than 20 major roles in the UK and abroad. She and her husband, Matthew Craven, are the founders of Sittingbourne-based Cameo Opera.

Matthew Craven

Matthew was inspired to join SOCS in 1963, after hearing their performance of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast. His first appearance on stage, 60 years ago, was as an Italian soldier in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, for Maidstone Opera Group.  Since then he has performed throughout the South East in pantomime, music hall, opera and operetta. In 1974 he was a founder member of Sittingbourne’s Applecarte and performed with them for 20 years. He and his wife, Judith Buckle, also spent 20 years as music hosts for Saga’s Special Interest holidays in the UK and Europe.

Thirty years ago, on his retirement from agricultural research with Shell UK, Matthew and Judith formed their very successful local opera company, Cameo Opera. When not singing, Matthew enjoys croquet, gardening, walking, and sailing on the Swale in his tiny gaff yawl, Dolly.

 

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We would like to thank our President and Vice Presidents for their support, generosity and regular attendance at our concerts.