The Choir made the short journey from Caldicot to Cardiff, to the magnificent 16,000 plus seat Swalec Stadium, the new home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club and entertained, in blustery, showery conditions the crowds and supporters of Sir Ian Botham’s Cardiff Stage of his Beefy’s Great British Walk in aid of the Children’s Leukaemia and Lymphoma Charity.
Gathered together in the wonderful hospitality restaurant we were treated to warming tea and coffee prior to braving the elements, while listening to a history of Glamorgan’s cricket greats given by Andrew Hignell. Memories of Glamorgan Cricket legends such as Wilf Wooller, captain of the 1948 championship winning side, Tony Lewis and Matthew Maynard who led Glamorgan to Championship wins in 1969 and 1997 respectively and not forgetting Maurice Turnbull, Emrys and Dai Davies, and Robert Croft (this is his testimonial year) among many others. A major honour and highlight for the new stadium was the hosting in 2009 of the first ever Ashes game of England v Australia to be held in Wales when England held out for two days for a magnificent, enthralling draw against all the odds.
In typical April windy weather sending Musical Director for the day, Shirley Ann’s music sheets flying across the lawns, the Choir, accompanied by guest accompanist Gavin Parry, kept up a non-stop rendering of Welsh classics including Llanfair, Llef, Gwahoddiad, Tydi a Rhoddaist, O Gymru, Yfory and Rachie among others for about forty minutes until Sir Ian passed through the gates. Good job we weren’t singing ‘Wise Men Say, Only Fools Rush In’ at the time, although we’d sung it earlier! Don’t ever complain about having to stand at practice, lads – we know you can do it! We were enthusiastically encouraged all the way by flag waving children opposite us. But then they appeared to be cheering everyone!
While waiting for Sir Ian to re-appear, choristers stoically carried on entertaining the crowds and then took up the opportunity to chat to Welsh Rugby legends Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin who were only too pleased to pose with the choir and local school children wearing Beefy’s Great British Walk T-shirts. Sir Ian Botham said on the BBC Wales News website, that “he was delighted by the reception he received in Cardiff today”. We can be heard in the background as well.
The choir is always pleased to support National and local charities and its commitment to doing this was exemplified by the dedicated choristers, MD Shirley Ann James and accompanist Gavin Parry supported by his wife Glenna who turned up in mid-week and in difficult weather conditions to support this event. Those who tuned in to Wales Today on ITV Wales would have seen and heard us singing in the background while Sir Ian was being interviewed.
Lyn
Photos by Lyn and Bob Evans, the bus driver