As part of a busy week, about 50 choristers, dressed in their casual uniform, took time out to travel to Tondu Rugby Club in Aberkenfig to entertain a group of Australian tourists, here for the Rugby World Cup. The very appreciative group of Rugby enthusiasts and their wives were treated to an opening of ‘Advance Australia Fair’, the Australian National Anthem before being given a taste of Welsh culture by our singing of Welsh favourites, Rachie, Llef, Yfory and O Gymru and of course Mae hen wlad fy nhadau, the Welsh National Anthem.
The varied programme, conducted throughout by Siân Hatton and accompanied by John Nicholson also included the romantic ‘Let it be me’ by the Everley Brothers as well as ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love with you’ made famous by Elvis Presley. The choir followed up with a rendering of ‘Somewhere Out there’ from the film American Tail, ‘Eli Jenkins Prayer’ and the spiritual uplifting song ‘Ride the Chariot’ in which Siân Hatton and David Gould were soloists. The programme also included ‘A Miner’s Song’ appropriately because the 14th October 2015 was the 100th anniversary of the mining disaster at Senghenydd near Caerphilly in which over 450 miners, men and boys perished.
The Choir were equally delighted by the presence of rugby legend Dr. JPR Williams, the Wales and British Lions fullback in the fabulous Welsh team of the seventies who is a member of Tondu Rugby club and a singer in Cowbridge Male Choir; Gareth Chilcott, former Bath prop forward and capped 14 times for England and also forward Stan Pilecki who was the first Australian of Polish descent to be capped for Australia. Stan well remembers playing on the 1983 tour of this country. He was the first player to play over 100 times for Queensland Reds and gained 18 caps for Australia. Also listening to us and making the introductory speech was John Ryan, a former player, team manager and life long member of Queensland Rugby Football club.
The choir continued the evening with the traditional ‘Afterglow’ which delighted the tourists and the members of the Rugby Club as they all enjoyed a generous buffet supplied by Tondu RFC.
Photos by Colleen Gauntlett. 
Left click on images to enlarge.
