On November 4th Caldicot Male Voice Choir was proud to celebrate its 60th Anniversary with a wonderful concert at its choir hall.
To a packed hall of invited guests, vice presidents and supporters the choir presented an eclectic mix of songs it had performed over the decades since its formation in 1963 as well as a few not sung in public before.
These included opening with rousing ‘African Prayer’ and continuing in the first half a mixture including ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, ‘A Miner’s Song’ and new presentations of ‘This is the Moment’, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘Yma o Hyd’ and including ‘Ride the Chariot’ with soloist David Gould and Sian Hatton.
Guest Artiste Rachel Williams from Tredegar accompanied by Siȃn Hatton included in her first presentation songs from musicals; ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Misèrables, ‘Movie in my Mind’ from Miss Saigon and ‘Memories’ from Cats.
Also included in the first part was a humorous presentation from chorister David Gould relating memories and anecdotes of the early years of the choir.
The concert was attended by invited guests Jessica Morden MP, John Griffiths SM, Cllr. Meirion Howells, chairman of Monmouthshire County Council, Cllr. Lisa Dymock of Caldicot Town Council and supporters Marjory Bartlett and Jennifer Coombes. Also in the audience were Gwyn and Margaret Jones who were also celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. The choir paid tribute to long serving chorister Peter Heslop on the occasion of his 80th birthday on the night and to debut chorister, baritone Kevin Evans.
The choir was particularly thrilled that the concert was also attended by three members, Sharon, Andrew and Joyce of retired chorister Bill Nash who celebrated his 100th birthday in January this year.
The second part opened with the well-known Welsh hymn ‘Rachie’ and concert premieres of ‘Love Changes Everything’ from Aspects of Love, ‘Down Among the Dead Men’ and contrasting with ‘Cwm Rhondda’.
Rachel delightfully followed with two further items from modern musicals ‘She Used to be Mine’ and ‘The Wizard and I’ from the musical Waitress and Wicked respectively.
This was followed by a report by chorister Leon Jones on the history of the building of the choir’s incredible purpose built choir hall, the envy of all choir’s who have visited it. Leon particularly paid tribute to the then secretary Islwyn Watkins, then treasurer Mervyn Roberts, President Richard Evans and chairman Peter Heslop without whose dedication and hard work the hall would not have been built.
The concert continued with favourite ‘Anfonaf Angel’ followed by ‘Every Time I Feel the Spirit’ first sung by the choir in 1990, the child’s prayer ‘Y Darlun’ and finalising with ‘World in Union’.
A third address was included by new chorister Owen Hammett-Johnson who joined, among ten others since January. He delighted the audience with his heartfelt feeling of initial trepidation at joining followed by the thrill of new skills learned, the joy of singing in a large group with a like-minded purpose, comradeship of course but most of all a feeling of belonging to a wonderful family of choristers. Naturally Owen put forward an encouragement to other men in the audience to join such a fabulous group.
The wonderful celebration evening of 60 years ended with presentations to the musical team of Siȃn Hatton, Shirley Anne James, John Nicholson and guest artiste Rachel Williams.
The audience and choristers went home happy in the knowledge that they had experienced a unique occasion in the history of Caldicot Male Voice Choir and are looking forward in seeing, at least in part what the next 60 years may offer.