Tenby Male Choir, accompanied by wives and friends, set off to their latest venue to perform a charitable concert in St. Andrew's Church, Blagdon, near Bristol.
This is a venue the choir visited about 10 years ago and the little church was absolutely full, people coming from all over the Avon area, to hear the choir.
After a day's journey and sightseeing in Bath, the choir spent an enjoyable evening at Clifton, staying in a hotel immediately below the famous Clifton suspension bridge.
On Saturday, the choir had a free day in Bristol and one couple had a most delightful encounter. As Stan and Betty Caswell were finding their way back to the choir's hotel, they realised that they were 'lost.' They were standing outside the cathedral when they decided to ask the way of a middle-aged couple walking along the street, the man wearing a rucksack on his back.
As Betty spoke, she suddenly recognised the man. His face was instantly recognisable to Betty, though she had never met him before. It was the Archbishop of Canterbury and with him was his wife.
Quite overcome, Betty seized the hands of the Archbishop and his wife, saying "I am so pleased to meet you," and Dr. Carey replied, "I knew you recognised me from the twinkle in your eye."
Stan and Betty then told the Archbishop the reason for their visit and he wished the Tenby choir well for that evening's concert.
It was lovely for the choir et. al. to be told over the 'bus microphone by the chairman, Peter Spacey, that our concert for that evening had the personal best wishes for success from the Archbishop of Canterbury!
This concert had been at the invitation of Mrs. Angela Smythe, a vice-president of the choir of longstanding, and a personal friend of Della James, one-time soloist with the choir.
After a warm welcome from the local vicar, the choir opened the concert with 'I Believe', a lovely piece which began the concert most appropriately in that country church.
Just before the start of the third item, 'Timeless Moment', an owl began to hoot in the near distance - a telling reminder of the autumnal evening and of the dark and beautiful countryside enveloping the little church in a dell.
The first section ended with 'Gwahoddiad', sung in Welsh, the title and first line translated for the audience by the MD, Christine Shewry.
The first soloist for the evening was Kate Watt, a local young woman, who played the harp. Her first piece was of Russian origin, 'Nocturne' by Glinka, and then she played the three movements of John Parry's Sonata No.1. Finally, Kate played 'Watching the Wheat', a traditional Welsh tune, arranged by John Thomas.
Her delicate playing provided a beautiful flowing movement of the strings, reminding one of a clean, fast-flowing stream, or indeed of a field of wheat blowing gently in the wind.
Kate Watt is a recent chemistry graduate of Oxford University, but continues her musical studies, which began 14 years ago when she was only eight.
The choir's second selection included 'When The Saints Go Marching In', 'Softly As I Leave You', very sweetly and softly sung, and 'She', a piece which allows the two sections of the choir, bass and tenor, to share the introductory verse in turn, and then return to four-part harmony in a highly romantic rendering.
'Rhythm of Life' provided a great contrast, with the pace increasing and the music seeming to ripple quickly across the choir from section to section and back again. In this piece, the MD shows great skill in control.
The second soloist of the evening was the choir's own Eric Mullins, who sang two pieces in his rich bass voice. These were very well received by the audience, as one could tell from the prolonged applause. Eric is not only a fine soloist, but blends seamlessly into the strong, 'bottom' bass section, as a good team member should.
For their final collection, the choir sang 'American Trilogy', then 'Arglwydd, mae y nosi' and 'Myfanwy', the last two in Welsh and unaccompanied. These last two were so atmospheric, bringing a touch of Wales to this remote little church in the English countryside.
The final piece, 'Amen', provided a superb ending. Christine reminded the audience and the choir that this was only the fourth rendering of this piece in public, but they performed it perfectly, with Jill Williams's accompaniment enhancing that performance. There was very loud applause and shouts of 'encore' at the end, so the choir sang 'Morte Christe', though no-one in the audience accepted Christine's usual invitation to any male chorister to join the choir for that item.
The concert ended with the singing of the two national anthems, and the choir and friends ended the evening with a wonderful Noson Lawen in a small pub across the way.
On the home journey on Sunday, the choir called in at Cardiff for a two-hour guided tour of the Cardiff Bay and Barrage, which was most interesting.
If any man is interested in joining the choir, or learning more about its activities, please contact the secretary, Keith Nixon, on (01834) 871887.