Amid all the excitement of bike rides over the Beacons and visits from Argentinian choirs, it’s worth reflecting on the quieter, more cultured side of choir life.
Poignantly, during Graham and Nina’s wedding ceremony on the train from Cheltenham racecourse to Toddington on July 6th, Roy Jones and Wyn Goodwin, each previous employees of the Great Western Railway read a poem transcribed below. Roy’s reading was in Welsh, followed by an English translation by Wyn.
Read by
Roy Jones
of Caldicot Male Voice Choir
at the Wedding of
Graham Hughes to Nina Isley
On the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Railway
July 6th 2013
Mae’r Rhain yn Allaf Addewid
Ni allaf addo i ti fywyd haelwen,
Ni allaf addo arian, cyfoeth neu aur,
Ni allaf addo llwybr bywyd haelwen
Sy’n arwain o newid, neu tyfu’n hen
Ond gallaf addo fy holl gallon a ymroddiad,
Gwen i cael gwared dy ddagrau o ddistwch,
Cariad sydd yn pur ac yn tyfu’n dragwyddol,
A llaw i ddal yn dy law di, drwy bob yfory.
Read by
Wyn Goodwin
of Caldicot Male Voice Choir
at the Wedding of
Graham Hughes to Nina Isley
On the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Railway
July 6th 2013
These I Can Promise
I cannot promise you a life of sunshine
I cannot promise riches, wealth or gold,
I cannot promise you an easy pathway
That leads away from change or growing old.
But I can promise a heart’s devotion,
A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow.
A love that’s ever true and ever growing,
A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow.
Now if that doesn’t bring a tear to the eye……………………………………………