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добро пожаловать, WELCOME, CROESO
Last February, for Valentine’s Day, the choir and JJR Trio were pleased to assist in raising over £1300 as a contribution to the Victims of Chernobyl Children’s Fund, a charity which enables children of Belarus affected by the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor disaster in nearby Ukraine, to visit this country for a month to gain much needed respite from the radiation contaminated area. To read this report please click on the link Fund Raising and scroll down until you reach the article (alternatively use the SEARCH box and type in Charity Valentines). The charity also collects much needed clothing, medical supplies and other items to deliver by lorry to affected areas of Belarus. Among the charity’s sponsors is Tata Steel at Llanwern steelworks.
On July 9th, Caldicot Male Voice Choristers, the majority resplendent in their blue polo shirts, were delighted to welcome the charity’s co-ordinator Marcia Doyle and six youngsters; four boys, Mikhail, Maksim, Sviataslav, Nikita, and two girls Marya and Katsiaryna from Belarus. Their interpreter Hannah, who had previously been a visitor to Caldicot as a child with the charity, has since learned English and returned to stay and assist the current young visitors.
The choir, conducted by Siân Hatton and accompanied by Stephen Berry gave a short presentation from its popular repertoire including Llanfair, Yfory, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Somewhere Out There, African Trilogy and Can’t Help Falling in Love. To the delight and surprise of the Choir and visitors, talented 12 year old Marya stood bravely on the podium and gave a superb rendition of Ave Maria on her flute. To her obvious pleasure, we all applauded Marya for a full 5 minutes with hardly a dry eye in the house. Click on the Facebook tag at the top right of this page to see and hear Marya, or left click on this link Marya plays flute.
During the interval, Siân presented the youngsters with souvenir gifts of Wales including key rings, pens, postcards, a DVD depicting the local area and the Wye Valley accompanied by the choir, Welsh dolls for the girls and rugby balls for the boys, together with Welsh rock and other goodies. The response was, from all the children, a very appreciated “Thankyou very much, Diolch yn fawr” and thanks by Hannah, on behalf of the children, consisted of a presentation of a porcelain Belarus Bell which now takes pride of place in our Presentation and Trophy cabinet. Before leaving they tucked into well appreciated soft drinks, home made Welsh cakes, marshmallows and cheese straws. After the children had had their fill, the remains were devoured by no less enthusiastic choristers.
The youngsters are in Wales for a month and we are sure they will make many long-lasting friends and will look back on their visit to Caldicot Male Voice Choir with fond memories of the time spent with us. We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome more visitors from Belarus in the future.
Appreciation is expressed, not only to Siân and Steve but also to Vanessa Nicholson for arranging the visit, to Colleen Gauntlett for selecting the gifts and taking the photos and to both for providing much welcomed refreshments.
Lyn