FROM THE HEART OF WALES TO THE HEARTS OF ROMSEY News

Getting Going

It was our Chairman Kevin Cleary who, on one of his many trips to Wales, caught up with the Treorchy Male Choir and fulfilled an ambition to invite the choir to sing in Romsey Abbey with RMVC.

It took a bit of planning by Committee members Mike Bull and Alan Willsher working with Music Committee Chair Nick Grout and MD Marion Maxey, but finally on a warm Saturday at the start of October the Treorchy coach pulled up outside the Abbey and something special began to come to life.  We knew ticket sales for the concert had gone well but hadn’t quite realised that the view from where the Choir, standing upright and ready, was of an Abbey almost entirely full of an expectant audience. Alan Willsher as Compère welcomed our VIPs, the Test Valley and Romsey Mayors, the generous concert Sponsors, our MP Caroline Noakes and RMVC Patron Haydn James. Then, setting a light, humorous tone, he finally introduced RMVC to get the concert underway.

Concert Highlights

Though we may be biased, the performances of all 18 musical pieces sung throughout the concert were excellently conducted, executed and well received. However, in the first half it would be remiss of us not to mention RMVC’s final number, O Gymru - meaning ‘From Wales’. A beautiful and rousing song in Welsh within which the solo was performed superbly well by RMVC choir member Dai Venn, sadly giving his last appearance with the choir before moving away from Hampshire.

This was followed by Treorchy Male Choir taking to the stage. Another humourist, Gareth Evans, acted as their Compère, amusing the audience with light jokes as well as making note (perhaps not for the first time) of the fact that Treorchy is the only village named after a choir! Treorchy’s four pieces began with Builth, again sung in Welsh, and concluded with a wonderfully powerful version of Men of Harlech, where the choristers’ voices almost literally raised the roof of the Abbey.

Highlights in the second half were Treorchy singing a South African anti-apartheid folk song Senzenina, RMVC a Maori lullaby Hine e Hine, and in a first for RMVC in the Abbey, an audience participation version of the recent Jubilee favourite Sweet Caroline, sung not once but twice! And then who could not find RMVC’s final piece, Bui Doi from Miss Saigon, sung with so much passion, immensely moving.

The Concert Finale brought both choirs on stage to perform three pieces together. Anthem from the Musical Chess, arranged and conducted by Haydn James, Morte Criste, and as an encore Gwahoddiad. Lastly, the choirs led the audience in singing Land of My Fathers and God Save Our Gracious King.

Definitely, and not to be forgotten, the last, and perhaps most lingering, concert highlight for both choirs was the fantastic, long, standing ovation from the best audience.

Prostate Cancer UK

Apart from entertainment, the other major aim of the concert, was to raise as much money as possible for an extremely worthy cause and one close to the hearts of many men within the choirs and probably the audience, Prostate Cancer UK.  We were fortunate on the night to have Micky Chilman recounting his story of suffering and recovering from the disease before he became an active supporter of, and volunteer for, the Charity. His words brought into sharp focus the importance of the work of Prostate Cancer UK and so we are extremely grateful to Micky for taking the time to join us to pay his tribute.

The Afterglow

Was there ever one like it? Orchestrated by Honorary Choir Member Ray Pickering and the Choir Chairman’s wife Lesley Cleary, the Afterglow in Romsey’s Crossfield Hall was a triumph of careful planning, great food, plenty to wet thirsty whistles, and the two choirs forging bonds through great social interaction and yet more singing. Well done Ray and Lesley for all your hard work – it was much appreciated.

Thanks

To our Concert Sponsors:                              

The Brightbeech Group: Michael Rhodes Estate Agents: Paultons Park:

Rathbones Investment Management: Romsey Medical Practice: Security Supplies Ltd.

For Financial Support from:

Hampshire County Council: Test Valley Borough Council: Romsey Town Council

Our gratitude once again to Liz Wagner and all the staff of Romsey Abbey. To everyone at RMVC who made the concert happen. To the RMVC Ladies Support Group, headed by Lesley Cleary – we still really can’t do it without you! Thanks also to the two conductors Stewart Roberts and our own Marion Maxey and the two accompanists Treorchy’s Ryan Wood and RMVC’s Richard Stannard. Last but not least we are grateful to Philip Clewer for his photography.

FINALLY……..Thanks so much Boys for making the trip from Treorchy and for giving us and our audience so much pleasure. We enjoyed! Let’s hope a return trip is possible in 2023.  

Photographs courtesy of Philp Clewer.