IF Britain’s Got Talent TV show had been around 70 years ago, the Dolphin Singers from Poole could have taken the judges’ breath away.

The Dolphin Singers made up of sisters, Peggy, Joan and Vera Mizen, achieved high acclaim both locally and nationally.

Peggy and Joan sang while Vera, the older sister played the piano. Born in Byngley House in Market Street Poole, Mrs Joan Harwood (nee Mizen) recalls the family moving to nearby West Street… and under the house was a smugglers tunnel that led on to Poole Quay.

“We nearly bought the Mansion House, but mother said it would be too big to clean,” said Joan.

“Peggy and I went to South Road School. We did sports and running for the school and county, as well as gymnastics,” said Joan.

The sisters were very well known in the area. They took PE classes at various places in Poole.

“ I learned to play the piano, which led to us singing in the Strand Choral Society, and then the Dolphin Singers,” said Joan.

“We sang at concerts and churches in Poole and Parkstone”.

During the 1940s and ’50s they were fortuitous to sing backing tracks for a couple of films.

They also made a record with the songs ‘Passing By’ and ‘Thanks Be To God’ which can still be listened to today on YouTube.

Mrs Peggy Dominey (nee Mizen) was in the Poole and Parkstone Opera Society, as well as the opera society in Bournemouth and Boscombe.

“She had a beautiful soprano voice,” said Joan. “I sang a great number of duets with her. We performed to thousands of people over the years.”

Whilst Joan did a number of plays with a local drama society, Peggy continued to sing.

“She dedicated her life to performing on stage, appearing in many light opera productions at the Pavilion, where she often took the lead role,” said Joan.

Peggy was so devoted to her singing, she even left her son’s wedding reception to sing at the Bournemouth Music Competitions Festival… and was back in time for toasts. She won her class with flying colours.

Sady Peggy died in 1978 when she was only 59. Even when she was very ill, Peggy had continued to perform on stage with a hot water bottle under her stage clothes, to ease the pain.

The Bournemouth Music Festival donated in her memory a trophy for Songs from the Shows class, in which she was most talented.

Mrs Joan Harwood, 84, who lives in Parkstone is the only surviving sister.