My goodness time flies these days, does it not? Barely a year gone by since the last concert and time again for winning school choirs and Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir to return to St. Andrew's in support of the annual Christian Aid concert.

Sponsored by P&DMVC, local primary schools put forward choirs to compete for three trophies (and significant cheques!) The Wilf John Cup for the winners, the Gordon Davies Cup for second place and the Eric Rawles Shield for third place. Cheques for £100, £75 and £50, respectively, go to the successful. Adjudicators normally come from choir ranks because of difficulty in finding independent volunteers.

There is always a major presence of parents, family and friends in support of the event, as might be expected, and Wednesday, May 16, was no exception. A large and expectant audience both upstairs and down for the night.

Schools have busy schedules and curricula these days and no doubt time for practise and rehearsal has to be balanced against other activities, so it was heart-warming to see how much effort had been put in, as evident from the performances. It must be emphasised, too, that the anticipated lack of choral expertise in choirs so young and with so little time to prepare was more than compensated for by the boundless energy, enthusiasm, exuberance, and theatrical ability shown by all three choirs during their turns on stage.

The bit part players for the evening (P&DMVC that is) played their supporting role very professionally and received significant and warm recognition from the audience as consolation at the conclusion of the concert, but as ever, it was all about the youngsters on the night, P&DMVC expecting no less.

The Rev. Martyn Evans opened, welcomed one and all, mentioned his extreme pleasure and experience of similar past concerts, thanked contributors for the fund of £1,000 plus, delivered his blessing and got his retaliation in first against Phil Lloyd (a la Carwyn James) regarding tales out of school! It seems they were fellow pupils a long time ago. Beyond the memory of most of those present surely?

P&DMVC got the proceedings underway with a new piece, 'World in Union', and one other item, before giving way to the young choirs.

Orielton School third place, accompanist Sarah Benbow, leader Mrs. Crockford, performed 'Sospan Fawr' and 'Long Live the Queen', a really funky piece the last item and, like all the choirs on the night, there was plenty of demonstrative movement of arms and bodies for extra effect.

P&DMVC offered two further items, before Sageston School, second place, accompanist Mr. Whitfield, leader Ms Sally Morris, went through their offerings, 'I'm a Believer' and 'The Flood', the last a difficult but unusual and enjoyable item indeed.

Presentations came next, a break from the norm this.

Joan Lewis/Henry Johnston presented The Eric Rawles Shield for third place to Orielton, Jenny Griffiths and Daniel Breese, grandson of Gordon, presented the Gordon Davies Cup to second place Sageston.

Mrs. Lloyd and Frank Harries from P&DMVC, in the enforced absence of Bob Ridley, presented the Wilf John Cup to winners Monkton.

Last year's winners, Stackpol,e were unable to compete, the rules excluding them on this occasion because they had won the previous two competitions.

The winners, Monkton, accompanist Juliet Rossiter, leaders Linda Crockford and Carole Cole, brought their charges to the stage to perform 'The Whole World in his Hands', followed by a challenging piece, in Swahili of all languages, 'Dansi Na Kuimba'. No pressure there then!

They certainly put absolutely everything they had into it, with the audience showing due appreciation of the complete performance. Energetic arm and body movements accompanying the music were tiring for some of P&DMVC choristers to even watch, let alone attempt to emulate!

P&DMVC struck a battle banner for an older generation by completing the evening's entertainment with two items that appeared to please the audience sufficiently to get them on their feet in a long appreciative burst of applause.

There followed loud appreciation of the efforts made by the schools and their minders, then it was a dive down into the basement to attack the squash and biscuits provided so kindly by the ladies of St. Andrew's. A welcome early finish to the concert for P&DMVC on this occasion.

A.S.