This year, the two schools, Pembroke Dock Community Junior School and Pennar Junior School, rose to the occasion with some beautiful singing, full of joy and praise, while the male voice choir sang their own selection which included 'Deck the Hall' and 'Christ Child Lying in a Manger', led by conductor Chris Lloyd and accompanied by Jenny Griffiths.
The compere for the evening was the inimitable Phil Lloyd who in the male voice rendering of 'Song of the Jolly Roger' donned a large black pirate's hat much to the delight of the schoolchildren, while choir chairman Frank Harries produced a colourful, but luckily, silent parrot, and was joined by others of the choir who wore spotted handkerchiefs and black eye patches.
The gathered parents and choir supporters joined in the singing of four popular carols prior to the children's recital.
The first choir to perform their chosen programme were Pembroke Dock Community School, known locally as 'The Blue School' because of the distinctive colour of their school building.
Conducted by teacher Leanne Prevel and accompanied by Martin Llewellyn, this group of 30-plus nine to 11-year-olds sang 'Oh Happy Day', 'He's Got the Whole World in His Hands', 'Mary Did You Know', 'Swing Along Medley', and finally 'You Raise Me Up', with such assurance, clarity and enthusiasm, that they rightly received deserved loud applause. Mrs. Anthea Finn, their acting headmistress, who had accompanied them to the concert, could be justly proud of their contribution.
Pennar Junior Junior School, regular in their appearances in these annual concerts, gathered beneath the Chancel Arch to present their programme for the evening which had again a distinctive and unique Christmas flavour with 'Sleep Quietly', 'In The Bleak Midwinter', 'Mistletoe and Wine', and 'Every Day's Like Christmas'.
Conducted by their teacher Claire Thomas and accompanied by another member of staff Debbie Kaijaks, their performance was equally impressive with real meaningful singing.
A recent CD of Christmas music which they have recorded was presented to the male voice choir, and their headmaster, Meyrick Rowlands, sitting in the audience could be equally proud of their contribution to the success of the evening.
Both these choirs sang a last carol 'O Come All Ye Faithful' along with the male voice choir and the audience to end an evening of 'real Christmas spirit'.
The schoolchildren were rewarded for their efforts with chocolate selections and gifts kindly donated by Chevron Oil while the proceeds of the evening, in all £750 with an additional £500 given by Chevron making a total of £1,200, was presented by choir chairman Frank Harries to Sue Patterson Jones on behalf of The Friends of South Pembrokeshire Hospital.
The chairman praised the school choirs on the quality of their singing commented on the contribution it had made to the unique atmosphere of the evening.
He also presented a 'Choir Service Award' to tenor David Holt who unfortunately could not attend an earlier presentation at the choir Christmas dinner, and paid a special tribute to the choir president Phil Thompson for his dedicated work and support of the choir over the year and presented him with a gift on their behalf. A gift was also presented to the Rev. Martin Cox, Vicar, of The Priory Church, in gratitude for his good will and assistance over the year.
The male voice choir wishes their fellow choristers in Haverfordwest, Tenby, and Whitland, a happy New Year, and express their gratitude to the Editor and staff at the Tenby Observer for their first class coverage during 2008.