The courtyard of the hugely imposing Pembroke Castle is a setting grand enough to grace any concert. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, Patron of the Shalom Trust in St. Davids, together with her committee, had asked the help of local choirs in the raising of funds for this most worthy charity. As always, your choirs are ever ready to give their time and effort in assisting Pembrokeshire people with good causes, and as ever Chevron are always ready to step up to the plate with organisational, financial and sponsorship muscle, enabling major events such as this to take place. It is difficult to imagine a major charitable event in which they are not involved in some way or other and grateful thanks are offered to them for their absolutely essential help in generating the really significant amounts of money going to local good causes. Recording, lighting, staging, pavilion and power were all down to the gift of Chevron. Pembroke and District MVC, Haverfordwest MVC, Haverfordwest Ladies and Neyland Ladies, led by their respective musical teams, combined to provide the backbone of the concert, with international artists Joy Cornock, soprano, Carys Evans, harp, Lilwyn McAllister and Gwenda Morgan, duettists, lending further musical substance to the evening. Gwenda and Lilwyn received special extra applause when they sang on without missing a beat through a power cut to their accompanist's piano during one of their items. True troopers were they without a doubt! We must not forget the audience in this report. The weather lately has been by general consent, absolutely awful. Where a balmy summer's evening could reasonably be expected for July, the actual experience was of October-like conditions. Very fortunately, the rain held off for the evening, a small but very welcome relief for all concerned. For the audience to attend in such numbers spoke volumes of their perseverance and insistence that weather conditions would not interfere with their enjoyment of so major an event. Noting this attitude, the choirs and artists were encouraged by the fronting musical teams to give of their very best throughout the evening. Chris Needs MBE, Welsh TV and radio personality, presented the evening and kept the audience highly amused with his slightly camp stage style. The choirs combined in some items and solo-ed in others, thus presenting a varied and enjoyable programme to a very appreciative audience. The musical teams, Chris Lloyd, Jenny Griffiths, Lyn Kelleher, Rick Lawrence, Nancy Mann, Gerald Nicholas, Gwyn Griffiths and Wendy Lewis performed heroically in driving and encouraging the assembled choirs in the depressing conditions. More than good enough to substantially lift the spirits of all who attended. So, too, the visiting artists, notably Joy Cornock and Carys Evans, dressed in off-the-shoulder, oh so glamorous concert platform splendour, performing bravely as if were 70 degrees in the shade instead of a goose- pimply 15 degrees! Heroic ladies all! The Rotary Club were stewards for the evening and people should look out for the extensive programme of high quality charitable events they have organised for this and next year. Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir have worked extremely hard this season, performing in several major arenas in addition to their usual local commitments, and will be taking a well-earned rest until the next major event with Mansfield MVC at Monkton Priory on September 8. Don't miss it people! A.S.
