The A.G.M. held on 4th February was to see, after much heated discussion, the resolution passed enlarging the choir to a maximum of 25 members – watch out Treorchy!!

1st April saw us move “over the bridge” to Bethesda, Briton Ferry, which is the first concert I missed since the choir’s formation – I was in hospital – ah!! – Edmond John conducted. This concert is also famous in the choir’s history for Chris Shaw’s famous entry onto the stage from the back of the hall during the middle of the Lord’s Prayer!! Edmond nearly had a “thrombo”.

We were now beginning to travel. May: Penoir Golf Club, Brecon and 30th August: our first concert at St. Mary’s, Tenby, when we sang to the largest audience so far – 1,000 people. It just shows our cheek in those days when we opened the concert with Doris Arnold’s “Arise O Sun” with only 18 members singing. It was great!!

December saw our first “2 in 1 day” type engagement. A hospital in Carmarthen in the afternoon followed by a concert in the beautiful 16th century church of St. Mary’s Carew. This was followed by some magnificent eats in the old church hall with its huge log fire. The only thing that marred the day was the diesel fumes pouring into our “luxury coach” on the way home.

To illustrate how precarious it was in those days with so few members, our concert in the Rechabite Hall, Gowerton, in December saw Edmond John conducting and me singing first bass. This was because we only had 2 first bass available that night. I must say that night was the best I have ever heard the first bass singing!! In fact several of the choir members used to alternate between parts in those days depending upon who was available. You had to be flexible then.