A glorious summer concert by Godalming Choral Society in Charterhouse School hall on Sunday was definitely something to sing about.

Mounted to celebrate Music Makers, the concert was also the world première of six delightful songs by a reclusive Godalming musician, who deserves a much wider audience.

As well as many unpublished manuscripts and some privately- recorded 78s, the songwriter Michael White, who died in 1992, left Godalming another very important legacy.

Mr White opened legendary Godalming independent music store Record Corner in 1958, which continues to inspire new generations of musicians – as did its owner.

It was thanks to a chance meeting with musicologist, art historian and author Patrick Bade that Godalming Choral Society chairman Heather Kerswell discovered White’s hidden talents, and Saturday’s world première took shape.

Mr Bade, a former Godalming resident, was a Record Corner regular who had been inspired in his love of music by Mr White and is now on a mission to ensure his mentor’s works do not disappear without trace.

Mr Bade generously made unpublished manuscripts available to the society and its musical director Sam Hayes transcribed and arranged six ‘lost songs’ for the choir and a soloist.

These were triumphantly performed on Sunday night, both by guest professional soprano Kate Symonds-Joy and Godalming Choral Society, accompanied by pianist and rehearsal accompanist Suzy Ruffles.

My personal favourites were an enchanting lilting rendition of his merry-go-round song and a charming lullaby, Light the lamps up, lamplighter.

Word had spread that the concert would also celebrate Godalming’s ‘hidden genius’ and both Godalming and Waverley mayors attended.

A plea by Mr Hayes for a photo of the reclusive talent was happily answered on the night by concert goer Chris Corrin, a former friend also inspired as a student, who now lives in Sevenoaks and had photographed him in 1976 (see the picture above).

Mr Bade is now hoping Sunday’s concert will inspire a resurgence of interest – Royal Academy principal Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, to whom Mr White was also a mentor, is already on board.

“It would have been so sad if these beautiful songs had fallen into oblivion.” Mr Bade said.

“Hopefully this is the beginning of a new life for them.

“And I am happy that Godalming has discovered a local hero.”

The excitement of listening to White’s ‘lost songs’ may have dominated the night, but they were just part of the concert.

Godalming Choral Society and Kate Symonds-Joy rose to the challenge of performing Music Makers, which Sir Edward Elgar considered one of his best works, with great verve and sensitivity, although lacking the orchestra that accompanied the cantata on its debut performance.

A celebration of singing in all its forms followed White’s songs, with the choir dividing into male and female voices to do justice to composer Bob Chilcott.

War poet Siegfried Sassoon’s Everyone Sang set to music by Chilcott was the emotional heart of the finale.