2020

January

We were sorry to hear the sad news that Alan Short had lost his battle with a short-term illness and had passed away. Alan was a keen sportsman and a very good 2nd tenor and had been with us for nine years. He leaves his wife Eileen, children and grandchildren and will be sadly missed by the choir and his family. It was great to sing at his funeral at Swansea Crematorium.

March

Sandra Knight was appointed as the new Musical Director of the choir starting in March. She was appointed from several applicants and we are very lucky to have found a person with her qualities. She gave her first full rehearsal with the choir in preparation for a concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea for the Young Singer Bursary Winners with West Glamorgan Youth Music. However, unprecedented events took over. Toward the end of March, the Coronavirus Pandemic came into being. As a result, “lockdown” throughout the UK was brought in by the government with self-isolation and gathering of people strictly banned. Government rules were to “Stay at home and Stay safe”.

This had a profound effect on all choirs- unable to meet and rehearse! 2020 was to be a very busy year for the Gwalia Singers. All future concerts were cancelled. This included a retirement dinner in honour of former MD Nick Rogers, a combined concert with the Kronshagen Choir from Germany, a choir tour to Cornwall as well as singing at several weddings and at other events.

With the new MD eager to commence her appointment and no choir rehearsals, technology came to the forefront. Regular monthly newsletters from the Chairman, Clive Walters and the Music Team were forwarded to choristers along with new pieces of music to add to the choir’s repertoire. This was important so that sectional parts could be learnt in readiness for when rehearsals could resume. (Also to keep everyone busy during lockdown). Zoom has come to our aid – we had a committee meeting, a social gathering and a quiz, thank you Gareth John for being our Quiz Master. Sandra also met with the four sections of the choir over a period of weeks via “Zoom”. A new chapter had begun…….

Dr Carl Sullivan, who sings with the second tenors and a former committee member, is leaving the choir. He was a doctor at Morriston hospital and is now taking up a promotional position in Sheffield. He leaves with our thanks and good wishes.

Unfortunately, a very loyal and participative member of the Gwalia Singers – Edwin [Ed] Parton passed away on 20th March this year. He had been unwell for some time with lung cancer and was having regular treatment in hospital where he contracted the coronavirus.

He was a very much loved and intelligent member of the choir which he joined in May 2008. His potential was soon recognised when he was elected to the committee at the AGM in 2011. In the same year he took on the role of Patron’s Secretary, communicating regularly with all those many individuals who support the choir. In 2013 the choir Chairman at the time – Clive Walters, invited him to be Vice Chairman which he gladly accepted and was elected Chairman in 2015. He added a special mature and hard-working dimension to this role which he held for the normal two years. On completion of his chairmanship he continued to serve as an experienced committee member.

He will be greatly missed by all the choir, especially the second tenors and certainly by the many golfers who played with him. Our deepest sympathies are with his wife Janet.