Whitland and District Male Choir, together with a large number of wives and supporters, enjoyed a splendid weekend in London from Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17.

Their main purpose was to sing, together with 700 other men, in the Royal Albert Hall, London.

It was something of a special occasion, because the Welsh Association of Male Choirs (South Wales) was celebrating its 40th anniversary and music from many of the previous Royal Albert Hall concerts was included in the programme.

The Whitland and District Choir and supporters were staying at the Hilton London Olympia, which was on Kensington High Street within walking distance of many shops and restaurants and, for the energetic, a 25-minute walk from the Royal Albert Hall, though there was no need to walk as the coach, arranged through Jones of Login, transported people to and from the hall as needed.

The concert was a great success. Some veteran concert-goers opined that it was the best they had been to, and the 700-plus male choristers, under the baton of Alun John, and accompanied by Bryan Davies on piano and Huw Tregelles Williams on organ, sang with fervour and passion.

In a varied programme, the choir sang a good selection of Welsh and English pieces, opening with three short Welsh items: 'Cyfri'r Geifr', 'Paid a Deud' and 'Yfory'.

Following this, came the first artists of the evening, Nerys and Llinos Richards, two very talented young sisters from Pembrokeshire, who played piano and cello.

The choir continued by singing three items in English, which included 'There is a Balm in Gilead' which was quite magical, softly and sweetly sung in that huge venue.

When the second artist came on stage, she was preceded by her very large instrument, a marimba. As principal percussionist with the Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Youth Orchestra, Sarah Cresswell, at 15, is one of the youngest ever winners of the Texaco Young Musician of Wales, winning the title in March 2001; her playing was perfect.

The concert continued with the choir singing 'Triad a Fawl' and 'Kwmbayah', and then the young Tasker Milward Singers from the Haverfordwest School entered the stage. A group of 39 girls and one boy, the singers delighted the audience with, firstly, a Serbian folk song and then 'Who will buy' from 'Oliver.'

The Tasker Milward Singers and the Male Choir combined to sing the final piece of part one, 'Battle Hymn of the Republic.'

To open the second half of the concert, the audience and choir sang 'Cwm Rhondda! One cannot describe the emotional response to hearing over 5,500 people singing such a hymn - in Welsh - in the centre of London.

Next came the choir's rendering of 'Deus Salutis,' which was guest-conducted by Richard Laird, the conductor of Queens Island Victoria Male Choir from Belfast, as a tribute to Richard's life-time's dedication to music, recognised by the association.

Other items in the second half of the concert included 'O Isis and Osiris' by Mozart, 'She', 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' and 'Amen', with the artists each performing once again.

Present amongst the choirs was the Fujisawa Male Choir from Japan. Founded in 1980, the choir has undertaken three overseas concert tours in the last 10 years, including one to the UK in 1998, and as a response to the friendships made then, the choir decided to return to Britain to take part in the year-long Japan 2001 Festival.

The Japanese Ambassador to Britain was in the audience at the RA Hall.

After the concert, Whitland and District Choir returned to the Hilton to enjoy a very sociable time in the hotel's luxurious bar, where not a little singing was heard!

Whilst choristers, wives and friends enjoyed a West End show and/or dinner at a nice restaurant on Friday evening, they also enjoyed Sunday morning at Windsor, where some visited the castle and others the shops.

There had been plans to go to Covent Garden on Sunday morning, but, it being St. Patrick's Day and a large parade and demo in central London that morning, it was decided instead, to go to Windsor, which was an easy drive away and a very pleasant town to visit.

But the weekend was not yet complete. On their return journey to Pembrokeshire, the choir stopped off for a meal at the 'Farmers Arms', St Bride's Major, in the Vale of Glamorgan, where a delicious meal was enjoyed (but not charged at London prices!). It was a convivial ending to a very happy and successful weekend.

Tapes and CDs of the concert at the Royal Albert Hall will be available very soon from the association and all enquiries regarding these should be addressed to Stan Phillips, 'Rhosdare', Velfrey Road, Whitland. Stan's phone number is 01994 240053.

Whitland and District Male Choir are always delighted to welcome new members, so if you are interested or know anyone who may be interested in singing and enjoying the social events arranged, please contact Stan at the address or phone number above.