Simon Hilton

Simon started in Barbershop back in 1980 at the tender age of fifteen. After hearing about West Midlands Barbershop Harmony Club he and his dad went along. After only six weeks both were on stage at Stockport in the preliminary round of the national chorus championships.

Simon already played principal clarinet in the Sandwell Youth Orchestra along with a smattering of guitar: He took to Barbershop like a duck. He soon became a nuisance, pestering everybody to sing tags or woodshed even to the extent of singing with Boston Common after only eleven weeks in the club.

Simon moved to Preston, and the first evening he visited Preston BHC, a letter of resignation from the musical director was read out. A concert was due in two weeks' time and Simon uttered those words he would regret for many years to come.
“I’ve directed Anvil in the pub, can I help in any way?”

That was back in 1989. Since then, Simon has attended Harmony College USA, has taken the Preston club from strength to strength and has sung tenor with Serenade. If any time is left after directing Cambridge, his other musical interests and family life, he is a Senior Weapons Engineer at British Aerospace responsible for short range air to air missiles on Tornado and Eurofighter.