On Saturday 2nd we gave a concert to raise funds for our forthcoming trip to Barbados. We held it in St Mary’s Church and our guests were the Thomas Coaches Mid-Rhondda Brass Band and The Eclectics, from Swansea. The evening was brilliantly compered by Paul Tabram, who is often heard at the Liberty Stadium making the announcements at all Ospreys Rugby matches and sometimes with the ‘Swans’. We opened with ’O Gymru’ and sung some further items in Welsh, that we have rehearsed for Barbados. We finished our set with ‘How Great Thou Art’. The Eclectics sang next, and, as their title suggests, they sang a great mix of items including ‘Set Me as a Seal’ and ‘Calon Lan’. They were a small group of just seven singers but the lovely acoustic at St Mary’s suited them well. The brass band finished the first half and played a medley from ‘Oklahoma’ and ended the first half with Tom Davoren’s ‘Pure of Heart’. They were excellent.
The band opened the second half with Gordon Langford’s arrangement of ‘Men Of Harlech’ and their next item featured Bass soloist Jeff Taylor in ‘Bass in the Ballroom’. They completed their set with ‘Sospan Fach’. The Eclectics sang next and sung five items including ‘Danny Boy’, ‘Si Hei Lwli ‘Mabi’ and finished with the energetic ‘I Got Rhythm’, to a great ovation. In our last set we sang ‘Delilah’ and Chicago’s ‘Hard To Say I’m Sorry’ and finished with our ‘Abba’ medley, which we have brought back after many years. The concert ended with a joint item, ‘Morte Criste’, played by the band and joined by the choir.
This was a terrific evening well organised by our chairman, Mike Phippen and our fundraising committee. We had a full church and thanks must go to our Ladies Committee who looked after ticket and CD sales at the church. Thanks also to St Mary’s church and especially Alan Jenkins, who is so amenable to our requirements and to Swansea Building Society for their generous sponsorship. Finally, to our music team of Nick, Rhian and Steve who ensured that our performance was to its usual high standard.
Following the concert, we all went to the Three Lamps for refreshments and we are pleased to announce that the Thomas Coaches Mid Rhondda Brass Band will be joining us again for a Christmas concert later in the year.
Saturday 16th saw us return to the Three Lamps to sing at the final match of the Six Nations, with Wales going for the Grand Slam, against much fancied Ireland. Again, we sang before and during the match and, once again, the pub was full. The whole place erupted at the final whistle, with Wales victorious by 25-7, far more comfortable than many imagined. Once more, we went to the second floor to carry on with the singing after the match. This has been a new venture for us, and we know that the owner, Tim Evans, is keen to have us back to sing at further events.
We are pleased to welcome another recruit to our ranks. Paul Hutin has joined the second tenors where his uncle Ken once sang. Ken was a terrific member of the choir and we hope that Paul will be just as enthusiastic too.
