Pictured above: Mark Cooke, events and hospitality manager for Coventry Sports Foundation, with members of ladies barbershop chorus Silver Lining including Sara Jackson (left of Mark) and Judith Medlock (right of Mark)

A Coventry leisure centre has hit the right note with an all female musical group after a move to a new home produced an unexpected silver lining.

Ladies barbershop chorus, Silver Lining, are based at the Xcel Leisure Centre, in Canley, and recently became one of the top ten female barbershop groups in the UK following a move from their previous home in Earlsdon.

After outgrowing their former base, the group relocated to the Coventry Sports Foundation-managed complex and is now almost 40-strong with members aged from mid-20s to 70-years-old.

Judith Medlock, chairperson and public relations officer for Silver Lining said: "It always surprises me that more people have not heard about ladies barbershop singing but it has become more popular on the back of a number of TV talent shows.

"We are always looking for new members and anyone can be involved, no formal musical training or experience is required, all we ask is that members are over 16 and have an ear for music."

The group celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and marked the occasion by finishing ninth in the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers national competition - an achievement which seems to have been partly assisted by the move.

"Being at the Xcel has helped us with recruitment because it is easy to find, it has good parking facilities and it is a nice modern venue to be based at.

"A six-week singing course held at the Xcel Centre attracted 16 new members and the injection of new talent has helped us to up our performance that little bit more and get us into the top ten spot we were aiming for.

"This year we are hoping to improve on that - or at least retain our top ten status."

The group rehearses every Wednesday evening at the Mitchell Avenue-based centre and anyone who is interested in joining should contact Judith on 01926 511118.

Mark Cooke, events and hospitality manager for Coventry Sports Foundation, said: "We are delighted that Silver Lining decided to base the group here at the Xcel Leisure Centre.

"We pride ourselves on being able to support groups in our local community and this is a great example of how we can do that.

"Across our three sites, which also include the Alan Higgs Centre in Allard Way and Centre AT7 in Bell Green Road, we have facilities to suit all groups as well as offering function and meeting rooms for celebrations and corporate events with a tailor-made service"

For information about facilities hire at any of the Coventry Sports Foundation sites contact Mark Cooke on 02476 856956.