A CHORISTER for half a century – that’s the splendid record of Winston Owens, a baritone with the Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir.

During the past 50 years, Winston has sung in countless concerts and it was at the latest in a busy year for the choir – at St Mary’s Church, Angle – that he was presented with a framed certificate to mark his choral milestone. Choir chairman Huw Morgan made the presentation.

Winston joined the choir in 1975 and has sung for just four musical directors – founder conductor, WP ‘Bill’ Lewis, David Gwynne, Christine Lloyd and the current MD, Juliet Rossiter. And in those years he has been a mentor to many choir recruits, guiding them along the right lines and notes as they learned their craft.

The Angle concert was very well supported; Chris Hirst welcomed both choir and audience. MC Matthew John started proceedings by revealing that it was Chris’ birthday so first music of the evening was ‘Happy Birthday’ to him.

There were two ‘firsts’ – a soloist debut by Mirelle Ryan, of Pembroke Dock, and a first public airing of a new piece the choir has been learning, Elvis Presley’s memorable ‘The Wonder Of You’. Accompanist as usual was Rev’d William Lambert, who is Priest in Charge of the Angle Peninsular churches, St Mary’s among them.

Mirelle delighted with four songs and the choir looks forward very much to her singing again at future concerts. And it was ‘thumbs up’ from Juliet for the choir’s first effort on an Elvis classic, after only a few weeks of learning it.

Following the concert, refreshments were enjoyed in the village hall and Huw Morgan expressed thanks to the church ladies.

The choir’s next concert is the first of two visits this year to St Johns Church, Tenby – on Tuesday June 17, commencing at 8pm.