With the glory of their recent presence at the Royal Albert Hall a fast receding memory, Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir are getting back to their raison d'etre, the succour, support and assistance for local community fund-raising in all its diversity. Thus the choir attended, sang and helped promote as good a cause as any in the calendar, funding for the maintenance and care of St. Johns Church, Pembroke Dock. This fine, well kept church, with attendant community hall, has wonderful acoustics, so there was no requirement for the choir to expend great energy in achieving a quality performance. Christine Lloyd, on the baton, is a firm believer in quiet, but beautiful, and takes pains to ensure the choir sings well inside its capabilities for best results when the venue permits. Of course, they can let rip when required, but not at this venue. The position at St. Johns is that tight control is absolutely essential. 'You raise me up', 'Sunset Poem', 'Danny Boy', 'Kymbayah', 'Bring him Home' are all melodies needing a light touch with high emotional input for best effect and Mrs. Lloyd is a class exponent of her trade in this respect. It was a night of similar control for the soloists, with David Thomas performing his pieces with a quiet depth of feeling. Henry Johnston ably supportive on his own ground so to speak, in his set also. The choir are still, unfortunately, without their favourite soprano soloist, Joan Lewis, regrettably not available at the moment, but bravely trying to cope with difficult personal circumstances. The three remaining nightingales were in singular form though, Jenny Griffiths, Alyson Griffiths vocals, Christine Lloyd vocals and accompanist, sang with a sweet convincing emotion that the audience quite took to their hearts if the applause was any guide. The Rev. Andrew Davies was on hand to offer prayers and some pithy comment to further enliven the evening, with Phil Lloyd epitomising relaxed presentation. No concert would be complete, though, without the help of secretary Gill John and her ladies committee providing the welcome social glue of refreshments at finale time.
