Tour de Force to South Wales – Three Concerts, 2nd to 5th May 2025.

We had been looking forward to our 2025 trip, all arranged by our Concert Manager Lynden Lowe, to the home of male voice choirs, South Wales. It is certain that singing together brings choirs together – what I mean is, that both Chepstow and Cor Meibion de Cymru (South Wales Male Voice Choir) were colleague choirs at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2024 and Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir are a choir with whom we have staged joint concerts and reciprocal visits over many years. It is these occasions that make for great links and collaboration and thus. three concerts in South Wales which otherwise would not have happened with such warmth and mutual respect by each choir. It feels like a brotherhood when old friends meet to share the glorious sound of male voices, but it can also be measured by the effort each of our hosts put in to looking after us. The hospitality and overt friendliness of all three choirs made our visit to Wales a true Tour de Force. We departed in strength, fully practiced in our song choices and met with strength of friendship, vocal and conducting skill and seamless concert arrangements.

We began with a leisurely coach trip to Cardiff, checked into the very comfortable Clayton Hotel and enjoyed our first evening meal. The hotel did us proud for all our delicious meals, perfectly served on time in accordance with Lynden’s detailed planning. On Saturday, two local visits were enjoyed by everyone, one group visited the Royal Mint and another group took a harbour boat trip around Cardiff Bay with time for sampling the delights of Mermaid Quay.

Our first concert was in All Saints Church in Penarth which was initially built between 1889 and 1891, later rebuilt in 1926 after a fire, then again in 1954 after suffering damage during the Blitz. It was a wonderful setting for not only our two male voice choirs but a superb young soloist Ethan Hartley and brother and sister violinists Megan and Rhys Cook. Directed by Elaine Robbins and the very accomplished accompanist Sian Davies, Cor Meibion de Cymru, true to their roots and name, beautifully performed five Welsh standards, in Welsh, and it was a pleasure to hear the contrasts in dynamics and tempo. Ethan Hartley was simply brilliant, his diction, timing and sense of occasion had everyone mesmerized whilst our Mansfield choir presented an audience pleasing mix of male voice classics, popular modern songs and a great performance of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Medley. This brought light and fun to the whole concert which was followed by a buffet and an afterglow sing in the local Conservative Club.

Travelling to Pembroke was like a day trip to the seaside. We were met by our old friends Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir and the newly elected mayor of Pembroke Councillor Gareth Jones. A most welcome meal preceded a wonderful concert in Saint Nicholas and St. John’s church in which both choirs, along with The Gentlemen (an octet from within the Mansfield choir) presented a lovely balanced range of songs. The finale pieces My Lord What a Morning and You’ll Never Walk Alone never disappoint and were sung with sensitivity and gusto in equal measure. The quality of performance suited the church on the south bank of the Milford Haven Waterway with its medieval origins linked to Monkton Priory which was founded in the 11th century. The group photograph clearly shows the integration, friendliness and respect afforded each choir and the afterglow was truly amazing. We were treated to a fabulous buffet enhanced by truly remarkable joint singing. The host of the pub did a marvelous job. Here is a facebook from David Powell of the Pembroke Choir which captures the sheer pleasure we all enjoyed.
“What a full day, absolutely brilliant! Massive thank you Mansfield and District Choir, for blessing us with your voices, thanks also goes out to Pembroke Town hall staff, the Mayor Cllr Gareth Jones, Reverend Heidi Monkton Priory Church, Tory and your team for the beautiful spread you put on both at Lunch and after the concert, last but not least Tony and staff Pembroke Power Station club where we rounded off a beautiful memorable day.

On the way home we were invited to join Chepstow Male Voice Choir for an afternoon concert in the Drill Hall. Once again, we were enthusiastically welcomed and both choirs gave of their best including a set from Chepstow to mark the 80th VE day celebrations of 8th May. Most fitting and enjoyed by the audience who joined in where appropriate.. A facebook posting from Chepstow reported “What a treat of an afternoon for all who attended our concert in a packed Drill Hall yesterday. Two choirs with over 50 male voices performing a full and varied programme to an appreciative audience, which included Chepstow’s deputy mayor. Many thanks to all audience members for supporting us, to Mansfield and District Choir for visiting, and singing with us, and everyone in the Chepstow Male Voice Choir Team who work so hard to make these events successful. THANK YOU!! Tired and replete following another super buffet we boarded the coach at 7pm to travel 3 hours home.

The post tour comments we share via facebook and What’s App can be summarised as “We didn’t want it to end”. This was a well organised, well-conducted and musically diverse range of concerts which was enjoyed by every one of our choir members and guests. The choral, directing, accompanying and organisational skill involved could not really have been improved. This was a superb trip and thanks are due to the hosting choirs for their work in making all the local concert arrangements, to our musical team, Ian and Maureen, Lynden our organiser, Kevin the coach driver from Vallances coaches and to each and every chorister because without your efforts and dedication it really would not have happened.
A true four-day Tour de Force!