Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir held their first concert of 2012 at St. Mary's, Pembroke Dock, last Sunday.

By coincidence, the concert also did duty as a farewell concert to one of St. Mary's long-serving members. Sister Marion, as she is known, is retiring to return to her birthplace in Kerry, Southern Ireland. After joining the Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, she eventually arrived in Pembroke Dock 20 years ago and stayed. A good deal of sinning needing to be dealt with in those days, that is obvious!

A smallish church St. Mary's, compact, beautifully maintained and decorated, with excellent acoustics, and a pleasure in which to perform. Vital then for the choir to be on its very best form and give the expectant audience the night of pleasure they deserved for turning out to fill the church on such a vile night.

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Hughes had arranged and sold tickets. Dennis welcomed and thanked P&DMVC for supporting St. Mary's, expressed expectations of the good night in prospect and was proven correct.

Master of Ceremonies Phil Lloyd felt compelled, as a matter of form, to introduce the musical team, though indeed they were all very well known to all and sundry there.

The choir started with three contrasting items, before making way for the doyen of the choir, Mr. Owen Jones, bass extraordinary, choir founder member, and singing as well as ever in his 90th year. 'I's Weary' his first offering, a spiritual, sung with great control and feeling. Henry Johnston followed with an offering for Sister Marion, 'Across the Sea to Ireland'.

Without going further, the choir have to thank Henry immensely for turning out after earlier events of the week. A sign, if one were needed, of his total commitment to P&DMVC.

Joan Lewis joined Owen to sing the beautifully tender 'I watched the Sunrise', a song that says everything about lasting relationships and it was simply a pleasure to watch two old friends deliver such a lovely song in so fine a manner.

The choir returned with 'Shenandoah' and two other items prepared for the MEN arena at end of March, before the audience got the chance to stretch muscle and lungs in the communal hymn.

Local audiences tend to expect Phil Lloyd to produce a moment of hilarity at some stage and they were not disappointed on this occasion. A gem of a joke delivered in the best possible taste!

Chris Lloyd, not to be outdone, came up with a surprise of her own. She had prepared and rehearsed the family Lloyd as a potential star quality quartet. Phil, Chris, Jenny and Stefan sang 'Soul of my Saviour'. An initial nervousness turning to firm confidence, it received due appreciation from the listeners, as well it ought. A bright future awaits if that was the audition!

Back to the choir again, their confidence high through the approval of a leader they admire so much. 'Rachie', 'Danny Boy' (one more for Sister Marion!) and 'Calon Lan', before Sam Thomas did a great job with 'Here I am Lord'.

Joan Lewis preceded the choir's three final items with the inspirational 'I'll Walk with God', before the concert came to its planned end, but, as with all good plans, they sometimes go awry and they were compelled by the enthusiastic audience to perform an encore.

Frank Harries, choir chairman and committed member of St, Mary's, then spoke a little of Sister Marion's history and contribution to PD, before presenting her with a painting of St. Mary's by George Lewis (choir artist in residence), together with other items of value.

The audience, by now quite satisfied with the evening, finally departed and the choir took advantage of hospitality afforded by the ladies. A minor miscalculation seemed apparent, i.e enough food prepared for three choirs when only one was present. Frank Harries expressed thanks for their accidental over-generosity.

A.S.