From empty fields to singing for the King: How a choir saved a dairy farmer’s spirit

A County Antrim dairy farmer whose entire herd was lost to bovine tuberculosis has credited a local choir with restoring his mental well-being and helping him rebuild his life. Mervyn Kelso, who farmed near Portglenone for most of his life, faced a devastating period beginning in November 2021 when his first batch of cattle was removed.

The tragedy was compounded by the death of a lifelong family friend who had worked the land for three generations. By March 2022, authorities had purchased the remaining stock, leaving Mervyn and his wife Ruth with no livestock and a silent milking yard.

“It was a traumatic time for a man who had farmed his whole life,” Mervyn recalled. “It was hard watching my neighbours tend to their cows.”

Encouraged by his sister, Mervyn joined the Farmers’ Choir when it resumed operations in Ballymena that autumn. He described the experience as a “great lifter,” offering a necessary respite from the isolation and danger inherent in modern farming.

“Farming is one very lonely job, even more lonely than it was a generation ago, because labour is so difficult to get,” he said. “And it’s a very dangerous job, especially for a man who’s working on his own.”

Ruth Kelso, who also sings with the group, agreed that the choir arrived at a critical juncture. “It was just great to have something to lift us because you weren’t busy on the farm,” she explained. She noted that the social aspect allowed members to see different sides of one another outside of rehearsals.

Barkley Thompson, the choir’s musical director and a former dairy farmer’s son, emphasized that the group addresses a growing issue of social isolation in rural communities. “People don’t always like to talk about that and acknowledge that,” Thompson said. “It’s not just about the singing. It’s about the friendship.”

The ensemble’s profile rose significantly when nine members, including the Kelzos, performed at the King’s Coronation concert. There, Mervyn had the opportunity to meet the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and his musical hero, Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.

“We were running around with these Farmers’ Choir vests, and he spotted us and he stopped and talked to us,” Mervyn said. “And he thought we were worth chatting to because we were farmers.”

Following the coronation appearance, Thompson observed a surge in membership. The choir is currently the only group from Northern Ireland and the only rural ensemble in the UK nominated for the Making Music UK volunteer group of the year award.

Meanwhile, Mervyn and his two sons began rebuilding their herd from zero in the summer of 2022, importing heifers from Denmark. Mervyn has since handed over most daily farm responsibilities to his sons, allowing him more time to sing.

“You always come out of that singing feeling far, far better than you went into it,” he said. “And that’s the key to living, isn’t it?”