We all know the help and support that Inanda Events gave to setting up and organising the staging, lighting, video, hospitality etc. to make our 50th Anniversary celebrations such a success. Kirsten and Steve did a fabulous job but in addition have given us a legacy of hall decorations free of charge to use in our hall.
Did you know that we receive generous help from local businesses? In particular a few deserve special mention for their invaluable help without which we would not have been able to put on such a spectacle for the over 500 in the audience.
Tony Mort, Managing Director of A.J.Access Platforms Ltd. of Caldicot generously provided a powerful movable hoist. This was invaluable in lifting the massive lighting rigs up into the roof space of the Leisure Centre. No one in the choir is quite tall enough to reach and probably couldn’t hold the weight anyway. Several tons in total and without the hoist it wouldn’t have been possible. It also provided a platform for the lighting engineers to work safely on the stage lighting – over forty lights in total.
Secondly, while we were assembled on our new four tier staging did you know that Mark Jones (no coincidence in having the same surname as Leon) of J & W Fabrication and Welding, Shirenewton, Chepstow provided the expertise, skills and facilities to enable our existing staging to be converted from three to four tiers. This enabled us all to be clearly seen and heard by the audience (no hiding places). Mark also helped manufacture the brackets to hold the advertising banners on the Choir Hall walls. Special mention must also be given to chorister Grahame Morton for obtaining the use of tube bending tools through his employer Reliance Water Controls of Worcester. Without this bit of precision kit, the staging hand rails could not have been built.
We are grateful to Kevin Mansell-Abell at ThatMedia Group of Caerwent for his invaluable help in designing and manufacturing the advertising banners, feather banners, new entrance lights and the choir badge installed in the Choir Hall. These have added a new dimension to our advertising and image. Thanks must also go to chorister Spencer Dowse of Dowse Electrical for obtaining and installing the LED up-lighting for the feather banners which graced and led the way up to the Hall entrance.
Over and above, we are also extremely grateful to Luigi and Carlo of Newport Printing Company for their help and support in producing our very special programme copy of the evening. Our gratitude must also go to chorister Ron Palmer, without whose meticulous records we could not have produced the historical content of the programme. We mustn’t forget the substantial help given by many choristers (you know who you are) in setting up the hall, the cleaning up afterwards, the running of the bar, help from families, wives and partners and the commitment by dedicated committee members to ensure this was an event to remember
We are extremely grateful to all the local businesses who help us out for little reward. Their support and partnership is fundamental to us not only to continue an important part of our musical heritage but in so doing aid many local and national charities. Thanks to all of you.
