Côr Meibion De Cymru (The South Wales Male Choir) has a very busy 2008 to look forward to. In 2007, the choir raised thousands of pounds for local charities. They are hoping to raise even more valuable funds this year. The core sponsors of the choir, Chevron Texaco, are based at the Pembroke Refinery. The company has loyally supported the choir for a number of years. The choir has been busy learning new pieces, and is off to Torquay for a competition weekend in February. A party of over 150 choristers, wives, partners and friends, will travel down the motorways for an entertaining event. Thirteen choirs have entered for the competition, and they will join forces to sing together on the Saturday evening! St. David's Day sees the choir back in Fishguard. The concert will feature soprano Ina Williams, who sang with the coir in their Christmas concert in Brecon. The children from Goodwick Primary School Choir will add their charm and singing ability to the evening The Rotary Club of Fishguard and Goodwick will be the beneficiaries of the concert. Llandovery will host another concert in May. The choir has a local practice group, in the town. This concert will showcase the efforts of these practices! A major charity concert for the men in the maroon jackets will be a trip to St. Albans Cathedral, in June. This concert will hopefully raise much-needed funds for the Willow Foundation. The foundation organises special days, and continues to offer quality of life and quality of time for those sick young people who are most in need. The choir will make the annual pilgrimage to St. Davids in August. This will be the 22nd year that the choir has sung in the cathedral. Always a popular event, tickets are highly sought after! The choir was originally founded as a touring choir, back in 1982. Continuing this process, the choir will embark on a major tour to Eastern Canada in August. A party of 170 will cross the Atlantic. They are arranging four concerts in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Québec City. This will be the third visit to Canada, made by CMDC! Further charity concerts are planned for Wantage, Bristol and Brecon. Choristers hail from across South Wales, Bristol and many towns in Southern England, as far as Bedford! Locally, the choir has members from Newport, Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Neyland, Pembroke Dock, Tenby, Newcastle Emlyn, St. Clears, Whitland and Narberth. The choir has a lively, local rehearsal group, based in Bloomfield House, Narberth. The group meets every Wednesday from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Why not go along, you'll be made very welcome! For further information, please contact Ken Williams on 01834 860881.