It was a measure of the high esteem felt for Malcolm, both in the Choir and in the Caldicot Community that there was standing room only at his Funeral Service on Tuesday 26th September at Caldicot Methodist Church.. Amongst the congregation over sixty choristers were privileged and proud to pay tribute to Malcolm by singing, at his family’s request Eli Jenkins’ Prayer (Troyte’s Chant) during the service and Speed Your Journey from Verdi’s opera, Nabucco as the mourners left the Church. So many were present that this had to be sung twice. Both songs were conducted by Shirley Anne James and accompanied by Stephen Berry. The songs were also sung by the Choir at Malcom’s late wife Claudia’s funeral in 2011.
The Service, conducted by Rev. Preben Andersen opened with a recording of ‘Over the Rainbow’ sung by the late Eva Cassidy and included the hymns ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ and ‘How Great Thou Art’. It also included a moving and brave tribute to Malcolm’s life from his grand daughter Natalie. Our prayers, thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends at this sad moment.
The photograph above was taken at Cardiff Castle in 2012 when the Choir ironically sang for Directors of Tata Steel who were there to discuss the possible closure of Llanwern steelworks where Malcolm and so many other Choristers worked for many years..