At the annual general meeting in St. Teilo's Church Hall at Waterloo, Pembroke Dock, their practice centre, the Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir formulated the events that in 2012 would mark their 60th year of choral singing.

Back in 1952, on Tuesday evening, October 14, in Wesley Chapel, Meyrick Street, Pembroke Dock, an invited group of would-be choristers agreed to the formation of a Male Voice Choir, with a Mr. A. V. Rees as its chairman and with a certain Mr. Owen Jones amongst its officials as music secretary. It is worth noting that the same Owen Jones is still a choir member and a regular soloist at its concerts 60 years on.

Shortly afterwards, on October 20, a Mr. W. P. Lewism of Pembroke Ferry, and a garage proprietor, was appointed as the choir's conductor and he held his very first practice in Trinity Chapel Schoolroom in Upper Meyrick Street on Tuesday evening, October 28, at 7.30 pm, and Tuesday night has been practice night ever since.

This inspired conductor was to lead the choir for almost 50 years, until his sad death in August 1999, and 'The Boss', as he affectionately came to be known, took the choir to a place of quality in male voice singing and was in time awarded a well-deserved MBE for his services to music.

The choirs first concert was at Bethel Church, St. Florence, on Thursday, March 26, 1953, when the admission charge was two shillings (20p), when present day concerts have admission prices from £3 upwards, depending upon venue, programme, guest soloists, and possible orchestral or band attendance.

At the onset of the choir, it was decided that all monies raised should go to charity and this has remained so to this day and, over the years of its singing, the sum donated to charity has been in excess of £50,000.

In 2012, conducted by Chris Lloyd, W. P Lewis's daughter, and accompanied by Jenny Griffiths, his granddaughter, the choir, with a membership of over 50, presents a minimum of 25 or so concerts a year throughout Pembrokeshire and beyond. They make regular appearances at the 'Thousand Welsh Voices' concerts, which up until recently were held at the Albert Hall, London, but now in 2012 are to be staged at the EN Stadium in Manchester in March, with P&DMVC (the abbreviated form for the choir) featuring with other massed choirs.

The choir has produced numerous records and CD's since their formation and have toured extensively in Britain and in Europe.

At the annual general meeting, the following officers were appointed: president - Phil Thompson; chairman - Frank Harries; vice-chairman - David Halsted; secretary - Phil Lloyd; treasurer - Henry Johnston; social secretary - Dennis O'Connor; press secretary - Tony Stewart; music librarian - Winston Owens; choir marshall - Peter Oliver.

In his address, the choir president, Phil Thompson, congratulated the choir for their achievements during the past year and commended the musical team for the time and expertise they had given to raise the performances to such a high level.

He said that 2012 should prove a year of real celebration and commitment in which the choir would live up to the aspirations of those who set up this family of singers in 1952.

Mr. Frank Harries, the longstanding chairman of the choir, thanked all those who in anyway had given support over the year, but put special emphasis on echoing the president's compliments to Chris Lloyd and Jenny Griffiths of the musical team and also added his thanks to Joan Lewis, Henry Johnston, Sam Thomas and Owen Jones, the choir soloists, for their fine contribution.

He spoke in turn about each of the choir officials and said that the service that each one had given in his particular role had proved invaluable. In particular, he spoke of the role played by Phil Lloyd, the choir secretary, who gave so much of his time and experience to the administrative side of the choir and who as compere at all their concerts, with his assured and humorous approach, added much to the success of the evening.

He spoke of the sad loss of a number of fellow choristers during the year and of the part they had each played in the life of the choir and that their memories would remain with them, especially in this anniversary year.

He was sure that at the end of 2012, the choir would look back with satisfaction at what had been achieved.

In their programme for 2012, the choir have two particular concerts planned in addition to appearing in Manchester and making a visit to Dawlish in the West Country.

In March, they will be holding a concert in the Restored Dockyard Chapel in Pembroke Dock in company with the Band of the Welsh Guards. There is room for 360 in this beautifully refurbished and historic building and ticket sales are expected to be swift.

The proceeds from this concert are to be given equally to the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and the Sunderland Trust and is being supported by the Pembrokeshire National Park, which is also celebrating its diamond jubilee.

Following this event, in October they will hold a special Celebration Concert at Folly Farm, when they plan to have a well-known singer who appears on radio and television as guest artist; the aim is to fill the theatre, which has a seating capacity of 550.