Following the Manchester/Garrison forays, the choir returned to its core purpose in the community by turning out for a fundraising concert in support of the Motor Neuron Disease local branch.

All choirs performing in Monkton have to be extremely careful in their use of power there. Mrs. Lloyd, well familiar of course with the acoustical quality of the venue, kept a tight rein on her charges, only allowing full scope when an item called for it.

There was a degree of competition on the night for an audience too. A footie cup final at the Swifts, plus a chorister (who might have to appear in front of the committee to explain himself!) chairing a Sunderland Trust talk in the church hall opposite at the same time! Despite the competition, though, there was a very satisfying audience present to support the cause.

Vicar Paul Nash made a short welcome address before the choir got down to business, opening with three items, and as always catching most unawares with 'Saints'.

Joan Lewis sang a new and quite lovely piece to follow, a wonderful hymn done superbly and entirely suited to the surroundings, 'Just As I Am', and no, not the piece of the same name as was done in Gilead recently by the quartet. Just as good though.

Henry Johnston, in very good form, gave us 'I'll Walk with God'. No doubt a correction will appear if wrong, but a Mario Lanza song from the film 'The Great Caruso'?

The choir returned to take matters to the interval, 'This is the Moment' among others, really powerful.

John Prosser, chairman, spoke feelingly of the need of support for the Motor Neuron branch, and stressed funds raised locally were spent locally and, although the NHS did its very best, quite often they were not as nimble on their feet compared to locals over essential support. For example, it could take six months or more for communication computers to appear.

John truly knows what he is talking about, as his own wife suffered and died from the same awful affliction not too long ago.

Mrs. Broadly, a visitor from Hereford and staying in Castlemartin, was welcomed for her attendance, though singled out as being probably the only one in the audience not in possession of the latest P&DMVC CD. The advertising industry could learn a thing or two from Phil Lloyd about marketing that seems obvious!

Audience joined choir for 'Cwm Rhondda', before the choir returned to the stage for three contrasting items, including 'Cyfri'r Geifr', with the ending quite startling a number of listeners!

Sam Thomas rendered a very nicely controlled 'One Day At a Time', before Mrs. Lloyd and Joan Lewis magic-ed up their contribution, 'All in an April Evening'. As ever the duettists produced a flawless performance, intensive, quietly emotional, receiving just and long applause from listeners. A sympathetic, accomplished accompaniment from Jenny Griffiths contributed to the intensity and meaning overall. Quite special that item, most there felt.

Three pieces from the choir took the concert to its conclusion, before Paul Nash came to the front and pronounced himself entirely gob-smacked at the pleasure and quality of it all. Well not in those words, he's far too cultured for such an expression, but you get this reporters drift.

Paul Nash, by the way, had the singular honour of being thrown unceremoniously out of Monkton Church years ago for taking it upon himself (without permission naturally) of addressing an empty church by trying his hand out in the pulpit. Now he occupies it by right! What goes round comes round.

There was no tea and buns in the hall opposite to follow the concert this time thanks to 'Sunderland' Tom Evans. Ooooooh! One feels he will be asked to make up for that somehow.

A.S.