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Changing times and changing tastes, over the years, have altered the shape and content of the Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival at Colne
That apart, however, the festival flourishes.
Standards remain high. Public support, though not what it was, is still at an encouraging level. And in terms of value for money from an audience point of view (sheer musical value at so many pence per minute, if you want to be really mercenary about it) Saturdays final evening offered three and a half hours of excellent music-making for a couple of coppers more than the price of a bus ticket from Colne to Burnley.
There was no better bargain anywhere in the area that night!
The championship rose bowl class, with which the final session opened, took on a new form this year. Instead of being a competition for the winners of several vocal classes, it was open instead to those with the highest marks in a composite class for sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, contraltos, tenors, and bass-baritones.
Local hopes rested with bass-baritone Lindon Armison, of Brierfield, well-known locally in the world of amateur operatics, and no stranger to the musical festival stage.
It was not to be, however.
At the end of the class, adjudicator Donald M. Franke spoke of the excellence of the five contestants and the invidious problem which he and colleague Derek J. Clare faced in ?nding a winner from five soloists who, had they competed individually, would undeniably have qualified for a prize. Then he awarded the prize to soprano Caroline Taylor, of Burnley, whose wonderful breath control in The Cherry Hung with Snow - we wondered if she had taken a breath at any point" was how he put it just tipped the balance in her favour.
Mr Amison, singing Myself When Young was placed second, the adjudicator conceding that he and his colleague had had great trouble ln deciding the final placing when faced with such talent, and third was soprano Hilda Harrison, of Cononley.
In the final of the light opera/musical class, the first three contestants from the afternoon heats were Muriel Maden, of Nelson, Jeffrey Parr, of Penwortham, and Alan Watkinson, of Southport. The first place went to Mr Watkinson whose high standard, integrity and style in The English Rose left no doubt in the mind of adjudicator Derek Clare. The high and powerful notes of Mr Parry, who sang You are My Hearts Delight won him second place ; while Muriel Madens The Hours Creep On from HMS Pinafore, had good, clear, ringing tone and was put over with great conviction, but was still only sufficient for a third placing.
The competition for the Ernest Allen Memorial Challenge Trophy was open to the winners of three classes held during the afternoon  the operatic solo class (won by Mr Watkinson), British composers (Paul Nilon, Keighley) and oratorio solo (Norah Thomas, Sale). Once more, it was Mr Watkinson who sang None Shall Sleep from Turandot; who was first, Mr Nilon was second, and Miss Thomas third.
For an hour, there was singing in the very best amateur choral tradition, and it could honestly be said that the result was in doubt until the final five minutes of the class.
It was then, in The Wedding Ring that the Nelson Ladies produced a tour-de-force which combined the precision of the guards trooping the colour, the fleetness of some Mercurial winged messenger, and in its closing moments, the speed of an express train, From the audience, there was a positive roar of approval, before tumultuous applause. If the adjudicators views on musicianship were in accord with those of the audience on the vocal pyrotechnics, then the ?rst prize was as good as won. And so it turned out. Donald Francke singled out soloist Carol Wilmore for a bow of her own and for special praise. He remarked on the ability of pianist Mary Butler, on how members of the Civic Ladies Choir sang as one  and he awarded 178 marks.
Second came the West Riding choir, with 174 marks, and the Marsden Singers came third, with 172 marks. Colne Ladies Choir was placed fourth, with 171, and there was disappointment for the Orpheus - were you perhaps past your peak from this afternoon, asked Mr Francke - with 169 marks.
There could have been no more thrilling end to the evening.
The final night of the festival was opened by the Mayor of Pendle, Councillor George Kerridge, who was introduced by festival president Mrs Doris Leyland. Mr Arthur Hartley was announcer and compere.