November was a busy month for the Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir with concerts in two of Pembrokeshire’s finest Norman churches - Monkton Priory and Lamphey.

On Armistice weekend, the choir contributed nine items at the Remembrance service at Monkton with principal soloist Alyson Griffiths playing two pieces on flute – ‘Oh for the wings of a dove’ and ‘Panis Angelicus’.

Alyson was also soloist at Lamphey with two very varied pieces – one by Mozart and Acker Bilk’s ‘Strangers on the shore’.

The choir’s latest recruit, second tenor Bim Mason, staged for his first concerts. Bim joined up after hearing the choir perform in his home village of Angle earlier this year.

There was an international flavour to the Lamphey concert with items in Welsh, English and NKosi – the powerful African Prayer now adopted as part of the South African National Anthem. They were chosen by Musical Director Juliet Rossiter and Carole Rees was Accompanist.

First tenor Peter Halifax sang two Ukrainian songs – the language of his mother – accompanying himself on guitar, despite cutting his left hand the previous day with a saw!

MC Matthew John’s usual invitation for the American Trilogy encore brought a record six extra voices from the large congregation to provide a rousing ending to a memorable evening.

Choir chairman John Hillier thanked the church ladies who provided excellent refreshments at the church hall. 

Choir practices are held on Tuesday evenings at St Teilo’s Church Hall, Pembroke Dock. In recent appointments Jeff Hurton has taken on the Treasurer’s role while Dave Brinn is the new Secretary and choir contact at [email protected] .