The Regency Hall in Saundersfoot was full last Wednesday, when Tenby Male Choir joined Tenby and District Brass Band for their third annual concert given on behalf of the RNLI. Welcoming the audience and introducing the choir and band was Mrs. Monica McDowall, president of the Saundersfoot branch of the RNLI. At her welcome, the MD and accompanist of the choir, Christine and Jill, were presented with beautiful corsages to wear, and the leader and conductor of the band was presented with a white buttonhole. With this nice touch, the tone of the evening was set. The choir began the concert with five opening pieces from their current and past repetoire, including the lovely new item in this season's repetoire, 'What would I do without my music?' and an old favourite, not sung by the choir lately, 'She.' The set finished with a 'Fantasia of Welsh Airs,' which were much enjoyed, and especially by some Scottish visitors to the area who had made a special request for a Welsh item. When the band leader came forward to introduce the band's opening numbers, he first of all, gave public thanks to the Arts Council of Wales and the National Lottery grants body, for the wonderful grant given recently to the band enabling them to buy the beautiful silvered instruments being played that evening. When he told the audience that the instruments cost over £50,000, there were one or two audible gasps. But the band made the most of their new instruments. They had chosen a film, theatre and TV musical theme, their opening number being the military march 'Colonel Bogie.' Next came the selection of music from the film 'Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang,' and then some of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's music from 'Jesus Christ, Superstar,' when Christian played the solo part on flugle. Finally, the band played 'The gift of the thistle' from the film 'Braveheart.' During the usual 20-minute interval, when drinks were available at the tea bar or sports club bar, the raffle was drawn. There were some excellent prizes donated by local businesses and by the Saundersfoot RNLI committee. When the choir returned, they sang five more items, including a Ryan number, the lovely new piece arranged by Christine, 'The Rose' and the very beautiful ballad 'Shenandoah.' After the song faded away, there was a breathtaking moment of absolute silence, before the applause began. As a fitting finale to some excellent singing, the choir sang 'Nirvana', that emotive and dramatic piece sung with deep feeling. This was roundly applauded and at length. The band took over again as the choir left the hall, and played the very well known and lively 'Aces High' from the film 'The Battle of Britain,' followed by the adagio piece known to everyone as the theme tune from 'The Onedin Line' television series. That brought back long forgotten memories! This was followed by music from 'Sister Act' and another Lloyd-Webber hit, 'Cats.' The band's final piece was from the film 'The Great Escape,' which again, brought back many visual memories for those who saw the film in its original form - so long ago. Before the National Anthems were sung, the chairman of Saundersfoot RNLI, Pam Mortimer, who had been busy as a bee all evening, having only just returned from a trip to Alaska with her husband, celebrating 40 years of marriage, paid tribute to the band, the choir, the committee of the Saundersfoot RNLI, and to the audience she gave thanks for coming to the event. The evening, she said, had raised £800 plus for the RNLI. Afterwards, as the many local as well as visitors to the area streamed out into the summer night, many compliments could be heard. Many members of the audience paused to personally thank members of the choir and band for a most enjoyable evening. The choir members and band members were then invited to a delicious buffet prepared by the RNLI committee, which was much appreciated by the performers, some of whom had had to leave home three or four hours earlier, in order to get there to give their services freely. Tenby Male Choir's next performance open to the public is on Tuesday, June 28, at St. Mary's Church in Tenby, beginning at 8 pm.