Last Sunday, the Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir featured in a concert held at Redhill United Reformed Church in Surrey, in aid of the local St. Catherine's Hospice. The impressive church has as its minister, Rev. D. John Joseph, a former minister of St. Johns UR Church at Tenby, who welcomed the choir for their second visit to the church. The choir last visited Redhill in 1999 and friendships struck up then were renewed and the church was filled to capacity on the Saturday evening.

The choir presented a programme of 12 choral pieces ranging from the Welsh tunes Llanfair Yfory and Tydi a Rhoddaist to renderings of Autumn Leaves, She, and Nessun Dorma. An encore piece was Morte Criste.

The choir items were interspersed by solo appearances from Henry Johnson, tenor, who sang 'My Little Welsh Home' and 'Pantyfedwyn,' while Owen Jones, bass, and the choir's remaining founder chorister, sang 'Eli Jenkins Prayer' and 'Unwaith eto'n.'

Joan Lewis, soprano, the choir's regular soloist, was unable to attend due to illness, but her place was taken by Sam Thomas, new to the soloist role, who received loud and well deserved applause for his renderings of 'I Believe' and 'Not the Grandeur of the Mountain,' to the tune of 'The Carnival is Over.'

Alyson Griffiths, the choir's flute soloist, struck a beautiful balance with 'Somewhere out There' from 'The Rescuers' and 'Goodnight.'

The choir was conducted by David Gwynn and accompanied by Chris Lloyd, assisted by Alyson Griffiths. Phil Lloyd, the choir secretary and now an established compere of choral events nationwide, gave his usual assured presentation to the concert audience, who developed a quick taste for his Pembrokeshire humour and delivery.

The Rev. Joseph, himself no mean humorist, was presented with a framed memento of the choir's visit produced by chorister George Lewis, at the end of the concert and said that the choir had established a real link with his church community and that he hoped to see them possibly four years hence.

The church provided a finger buffet after the concert and on Sunday morning the choir and their wives attended a service of hymns old and new and again sang three pieces, 'God's Choir,' 'The Old Rugged Cross' and 'Rachie.' This service was followed by a splendid meal laid on by the church refreshment committee in the adjoining church hall.

On Sunday evening, the choristers and their wives joined in a river trip down the Thames, enjoying a four-course meal and cabaret-disco during the cruise. The choir returned to Pembrokeshire on Monday.

Previous to this Sunday visit the choir had given a concert at St. Johns, Tenby, on September 23, which received a standing ovation, and at East Williamston Village Hall on October 4, followed by a concert in Solva Church on October 12 in aid of the Pembrokeshire charity Shalom House Trust Hospice.

On September 30 they had joined in a concert at Monkton Priory Church with a visiting choir from Parkside Colliery, Wigan.

Their next concert is on November 2 at the Roman Catholic Church, Pembroke Dock.