Photos taken by Amy Jones.  Left click on images to enlarge.

 

After last week singing at the Castle Inn and the cutting of the Christmas Cake at the Choir Hall, Côr Meibion Caldicot Choristers completed their Christmas celebrations as a choir by entertaining the local community at a packed Haywain pub after practice this Thursday.  Braving a near freezing night, they collected in a hot and humid crowded bar to treat a packed house to a rousing and entertaining mix of Christmas songs and carols.  Conducted  by Siân Hatton with Shirley Ann James and accompanied by John Nicholson on the keyboard, the choir opened with Joy to the World, following on with Russian wintry, dancing folk song Casatchok (didn’t see many choristers dancing like Cossaks though) and a popular Christmas Medley (ending with Jingle bells) the choir invited the seasons revellers to join in with I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas, Walking in a Winter Wonderland and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer before singing a few favourite Christmas carols.

 

Before the choir hall was built in 1996, many choristers would cram into The Haywain after practice at the nearby school for thirst quenching refreshment and sure of a warm welcome, the tradition is held by a popular visit to the pub every Christmas.  Long may it continue.