Dee Sign Choir has been nominated for Team of the Year by Anne Hesketh
The choir is a group of 66 people, all of whom are volunteers, some as young as seven, other over 70.
They have been fundraising for Chester Deaf Centre and the local deaf community since 1997.
They are split into two groups, adults and juniors, the juniors being called Dee-Sign Dynamix.
Their uniform is sponsored by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
During 2010, the choir entered the Jersey Eisteddfod in the first ever Signing Choirs Competition Class. They came away as winners, achieving a Gold Award, beating the Liverpool Signing Choir and Jersey choirs.
In 2011, they returned to Jersey to defend their title and came away as winners once again, achieving Gold and with the Junior choir also achieving the top award in their class which they entered for the first time.
In 2012, the choir received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the equivalent of an MBE and the highest award that can be received by a group. It was presented by the Duchess of Gloucester in Chester Town Hall.
Anne Hesketh, secretary of the Chester & District Committee for Deaf People, said: “The choir is made up of profoundly deaf people, hard of hearing, hearing parents of deaf children, and volunteers who simply enjoy performing to music in British Sign Language which is beautiful to watch.”
