The good people connected with Steynton Church must have worked extremely hard at selling tickets to attract the size of audience present on so foul an evening. Most will remember the weather of that day to have been a very wintry one, cold, windy, with torrential rain all day. Another explanation exists, though, for the near capacity attendance: the reputation of Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir going before them possibly? This reporter leaves that to the judgement of others better qualified, but an air of expectancy and anticipation was certainly very evident before start of concert.

Certainly, too, the choir were 'up for it'. A full choir turned out, leaving aside illness and work commitments by some choristers.

The Archdeacon, Diocese St. Davids, Rev. Keith Smalldun (now there's a lively character for you!), whose first P&DMVC concert this was, introduced the choir, spoke a little of his background and blessed the proceedings.

Presenter and choir secretary Phil Lloyd, whose boyhood church this was, went for the kill immediately, losing no time in encouraging those listeners without the choir's latest CD to take advantage of the special offer available that night. Phil, as a child with others, used to pump the organ years ago, and there is loose talk that some left boyhood reminders of their efforts of those times. Actions, were they to have been made public, could have blighted Phil's long and successful career with the police! We can reveal no more than that, but the church is all about forgiveness, is it not?

Mrs. Lloyd, conductor, and Jenny Griffiths, accompanist, (the pulchritudinous Jenny Griffiths, may we be so bold as to say), led the choir into their first three items.

Joan Lewis presented a terrific 'Open the Gates of the Temple', a difficult item this, but a polished performance as usual from this long-serving choir soprano soloist.

Henry Johnston followed Joan, English words to a favourite Welsh hymn, 'Pantyfedwen', O Dearest Lord, voted the best hymn by Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.

Henry was married in Steynton Church many years ago, his wife sadly passing away recently, so the occasion was of especial significance to him. He made a very fine job of it, as is usual for Henry.

P&DMVC took the concert to the interval, one item, 'The Rose', dedicated to Mrs. Ron Lloyd, whose chorister husband sings with the choir. A special occasion for them apparently. A romantic gesture, don't you think? Were there maidenly blushes? We know not, she was sitting too far back to observe, but charmed she must have been.

Keith Smalldun bounced back to enthuse over what he had heard up to then and to express anticipation for what was to come, though first the audience was to join the choir in a communal hymn.

Three further pieces from the choir, with Phil Lloyd regrettably failing in his duty to warn the audience of the end of 'Cyfri'r Geifr'. Tut, tut, Phil!

The ladies of the choir, without whom P&DMVC, (and most other choirs we know of!), would be lost without, took centre stage. Mrs. Lloyd and Joan Lewis in duet, 'Because He Lives', with Jenny accompanying. Marvellous! And the audience thought so too.

Sam Thomas did very well to follow them and make a good impression with a good strong offering of 'Shine Jesus Shine'.

The choir completed their programme to bring the evening to its intended end, with Keith marvelling over what he had heard. He followed this with further blessings and warm thanks to the choir for help in fundraising towards church upkeep.

Meanwhile, the audience had decided this wasn't to be the end of the concert and there followed excited public discussion over choice of encore. Failing agreement, the two most popular requests were encored before the choir were allowed to leave and sample a bun and a deserved cuppa provided by the ladies of the church. Frank Harries was on hand to express gratitude for their kindness.

A.S.