A Lifetime of Song

For Phyllis Gwilliam of the Weston-super-Mare Ward, Bristol Stake, singing has been an important part of her life. Her mother was a music teacher who taught Phyllis and her sister Dorothy to sing, and the three of them travelled the north of England entertaining. In 1960 Sister Gwilliam joined 300 sisters who performed as a group called the Singing Mothers, which travelled to Scotland, Wales, and Ireland and to the Royal Albert Hall to sing to President David O. McKay. For the performance by the Singing Mothers, the Queen gave President McKay use of her royal box.

Following the death of her mother in 1962, Phyllis moved to Weston-super-Mare. In 1964 the Incomparable Mormon Choir of England made a record at Colston Hall for the Decca record company, with Phyllis singing "Stranger in Galilee."

One of Sister Gwilliam's other interests is sewing, and over the past 40 years she has made scores of costumes for shows, youth roadshows, and pantomimes.

In 1989 Sister Gwilliam appeared on the television programme This is Your Life with Michael Aspel. Cyril Smith, a long-time Member of Parliament for Rochdale and an old friend of Phyllis's, was the special guest during the evening. Consequently, Phyllis was invited to sing.

Her love of music has enhanced Sister Gwilliam's service in the Church. She has served in Young Women, as Relief Society president, and with her husband as a stake missionary. On 20 April Brother and Sister Gwilliam commence a temple mission at the London Temple.