Kingsbridge was founded in the early 10th century as a market town at the head of the Salcombe Estuary and is now a thriving community.

The Kingsmen rehearse each Wednesday evening in the Evangelical Church in Fore Street, Kingsbridge and rehearsals start at 7.30pm. New members and guests are always very welcome.

The Kingsmen is the performance name of the chorus which is part of the Kingsbridge Barbershop Harmony Club (K.B.H.C.). In addition to the chorus there are several quartets from within the group (please visit the quartet section).
Like 60 other clubs in the UK, the Kingsbridge Barbershop Harmony Club belongs to the British Association of Barbershop Singers (B.A.B.S.) which is affiliated to S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. the American Barbershop Harmony Society.

The Kingsmen (currently over 50 voices) have made rare appearances in competitions, believing that continuous improvement can be achieved by preparing for major performance and international tours both in the USA and Europe (Please visit our International tours page)

However on their first appearance in competition at Blackpool in 1999 they finished 14th out of the 39 competing choruses.

Roy Hann

Back in September of 1991, Roy decided to form a Barbershop Chorus in the small town of Kingsbridge where he lives.

To attract singers he put an advert in the local paper with a request that any interested singers should assemble at the local inn. To his delight and surprise 12 men turned up to experience the joys of barbershop harmony singing and within a few months the ensemble grew to a 20 man chorus.

Roy gained his knowledge of Barbershop Harmony Singing whilst with the Plymouth based chorus, the Pilgrimaires. There he sang bass in the chorus and with a quartet called 'Quorum'. He was also P.R.O for the organisation as well as serving as Chairman for two years.

Roy is a family man and is married to his childhood sweetheart, Eileen. They recently celebrated their Ruby Wedding annniversary. They have three children, Paul, Jacqueline and Rebecca and five grandchildren, Joshua, Isabelle, Alex, Richard and Ruby. His son Paul was a founder member of the Kingsmen and his two sons- in - law Andrew and Gary, as well as his grandson Joshua, sing in the chorus.

Roy currently sings bass in a quartet formed from the ranks of the Kingsmen called 'Magnum'.

His working career has been mainly spent in the agricultural industry, and up until recently he held the position of Managing Director with a multi-million turnover company for over eighteen years.

History

The early rehearsals took place in the loft of the Crabshell Inn in Kingsbridge. They soon outgrew this venue and now rehearse in the excellent facilities offered by the Methodist Church Hall in Fore Street, Kingsbridge.

Since their inception they have had a steady stream of visitors to their rehearsals from all around the world. In 1995 they hosted a chorus from New Zealand, 'The Canterbury Plainsman' and in 1997 hosted a party from the 'Masters of Harmony' from the Sante Fe Springs Chapter, California.

The Kingsmen perform mainly in the South Hams area of Devon in venues such as churches, village halls, hotels, restaurants and pubs. They take part in three Music Festivals in the area at Dartmouth, Salcombe and Kingsbridge during the summer months.

In their short history the Kingsmen have embarked on two USA tours. In 1994 they visited California, Nevada and Arizona and in 1997 North and South Carolina and Georgia.