LAST week, several 'Tenby lads' returned safe and sound but shattered and voice-less, after a three- week trip to Argentina and Welsh-speaking Patagonia. Joined by choristers from 20-plus choirs throughout Wales, they were appropriately named 'The Comrades Choir' and set off on April 19 in one of Den's taxis, which was taking them to Gatwick to catch their first flight. When they arrived in Madrid, it was to discover that the plane taking them on the next stage of their journey - to Buenos Aires - was 'out of order', so they were whisked off for a meal and a stop-over at a five-star hotel in Madrid. After that, everything went smoothly. They sang to capacity audiences in Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn, Esquel, Rawson and Trevelin. They had many important people, including Heads of States, Governors and Ambassadors, in their audiences. The choir of 66 choristers was conducted by MD of Morlais Male Voice Choir, Mr. John Asquith. They were accompanied by David Last. MD of Melody Music, Mark Burrows, who arranged the tour, was delighted with its success, as the impact of this, the largest group of choristers, plus 80 supporters, ever to tour to this destination, had their visit formally entered into the Statute books of the State of Chubut by the President, thus giving the choristers the Freedom of the Area. Many of the choristers and supporters were first- language Welsh speakers and it was their great delight to converse with Patagonians, in Welsh. Much of the programme of the choir was in Welsh. They had also learned and performed 'Calon Lan' in Welsh and Spanish, and sang the Argentinian National Anthem in Spanish. This 'brought the house down!' At one scheduled concert, 700 tickets had been sold prior to the event, but when the choir arrived, it was amazed to find that 1,200 people were in the audience. A huge number, considering the relatively small populations out in the countryside. The choir also performed at the official 105th Anniversary of the Argentina-Patagonia plebiscite celebration, which was covered by national TV and radio. One of the Comrades' choristers joined a local lady in laying a wreath in memory of the Welsh people who helped to form part of the history in the area. Before they returned home, 'the boys' had travelled thousands of miles inside the country, visiting hugely diverse areas, from Ushuaia, the nearest landfall to Antartica, along part of the western boundary of Argentina and then across country, covering much of Patagonia and visiting many of the important towns with Welsh connections and history. In the 'Diario' newspaper, they were front-page news, with a large photo of the choir, and the headline 'Emoción y Brillo', capturing the local people's thrill and delight at hosting such an event. There are plans for a reunion of the Comrades in February 2008, but they won't have to go to Argentina to be reunited. It's to be held in Krakow, Poland.
