On Saturday, January 18, this year I had the privilege to attend and take part as a member of Tenby Male Choir at the funeral service of Mrs. Elsie Hurlow.
As I sat in the gallery, watching and listening, my mind travelled back over the years and especially to November, 1935, the day Miss Elsie Richards got married to Mr. George Hurlow, of St. Florence.
My brother John and myself sat in the gallery on that day in almost the same seat and watched the wedding ceremony. I think it was the first wedding I had witnessed.
As soon as the wedding was over we hurried outside and tied the chapel gate shut. As the bride and groom arrived at the gate we were given a silver coin to undo the rope and allow the newly married couple to pass through.
This was a common practice in the '20s and '30s, and if the chapel had no gate a rope would be held across the road and the couple again would have to pay to pass.
I remembered also that Elsie belonged to a very musical family. Her mother's brother Mr. Joseph Edwards was conductor of Bethesda Choir for many years, and Elsie, with her sister Alice and brother Garland, were for many years members of this choir, as was Garland's wife Winnie.
Following the retirement of Mr. Edwards, my father took up the baton in 1935, and Elsie and her family continued to support it. The anniversary concerts were the highlights of the chapel year.
The music would be new each year and always finished with a rousing anthem, my favourite being 'Jerusalem' by Howell Mason, and another by Bliss called 'Cry out and Shout'.
I remember my father learning his newly selected pieces from solfa without any musical instrument to help. Elsie in her younger days sang solos accompanied by her cousin Mr. John Edwards on the harp.
The Bethesda which Elsie knew as a young woman was a very lively place, and was a great influence on my childhood and early life. I attended Sunday School on each alternate Sunday afternoon, and received Bible lessons in the gallery where I was seated for the funeral.
Our teacher was Mr. Jim Morse, grandfather of Owen, well-known to followers of Tenby Rugby Club, but better known to me as a very good quarter-miler.
The New Year's Day concert was the highlight of the year with a great feast, followed by a concert, where trained by Mrs. Griffiths, the minister's wife, we performed some great comic songs suitably attired, and also short plays.
Thank you Mrs. Elsie Hurlow for reviving such wonderful memories as you enter into the joy of your Lord.
MR. DUNCAN HILLING, SAUNDERSFOOT