A RESPECTED music teacher who took the Wirral Singers to musical victory has died, aged 97.

Doris Parkinson, affectionately remembered as “Parky”, is known for putting together the Old Girls’ Choir (now known as Wirral Singers).

She formed the collective while she was head of music at Wirral Grammar School and served more than five decades as its conductor.

Her talent also saw her work with several distinguished musicians, including the Liverpool-born conductor Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Charles Groves, who was musical director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra between 1963 and 1977.

Sue Criddle, secretary of the Wirral Singers, said: “She was a strict disciplinarian, highly musical, particularly keen on the choral tradition. She had a very high standard and we went to top competitions – Llangollen Eisteddfod and Blackpool Festival – and won a lot of trophies, so we all remember her with great affection.”

Wigan-born Miss Parkinson came to Wirral in 1945 and was appointed head of music at Wirral Grammar School for Girls, in Bebington.

Then, in 1952, after requests from former pupils, the then headteacher Winifred Ashton suggested a choir would develop continuity between pupils past and present.

Miss Parkinson was a natural choice. The choir went on to gain much success in the competitive field at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, an annual music festival in North Wales, and in the BBC’s Let the Peoples Sing, and many more competitions.

Over the years, they have performed at venues ranging from Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall and Liverpool Cathedral, to the Royal Albert Hall.

Miss Parkinson, who lived in Bromborough, retired from teaching in 1973 but continued to conduct the Wirral Singers until last Christmas.

The choral society continues to thrive today, with more than 30 members, and is now directed by one of Miss Parkinson’s ex-pupils, Jackie Robertson.

Miss Parkinson also conducted the Port Sunlight Choral Group and was president of the Great Sutton Male Voice Choir. She also threw herself into musical festivals, becoming an adjudicator as well as organiser and accompanist.

Proud of her northern heritage, Miss Parkinson was highly regarded by those who knew her, but also had the respect and affection of many famous directors and composers, some of whom wrote songs especially for her choirs.

Her devotion to music led her to be awarded the MBE for services to music on Merseyside, in 1976. In an interview with the Daily Post, back in 2002, she said her musical side came from her mother, Sarah.

However, she did share her father William’s passion for cricket. She was an avid supporter of the Lancashire cricket team and was thrilled to have met cricketer Brian Statham, legendary fast bowler for England and Lancashire, just before he died in June, 2000.

In 2002, a concert was held by the Wirral Singers to celebrate Miss Parkinson’s 90th birthday and the 50th anniversary of being appointed as conductor of the Old Girls’ Choir.

Miss Parkinson, who never married, died last Monday, a week before her 98th birthday.