AS Pembroke and District Male Choir members practise for their next concert, for Remembrance, on November 7, they remember with fondness their previous, storm-battered, concert.

The unwanted attentions of Storm Amy deterred neither choristers nor audience at St Twynnells Church, where the event was staged in aid of church funds.

Among the audience were American visitors Jud and Beth Kelley. By chance earlier in the day they had met the choir’s first tenor Nigel Phillips and he invited them to the concert.

Jud and Beth - from Ann Arbor, Michigan - were walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path but Storm Amy interrupted their progress.

“Wherever we have gone in Wales we have been made so welcome and everyone is so friendly,” said Beth, “and to hear a Welsh male voice choir has been very special. We are very grateful to Nigel for the invitation.”

Although reduced in numbers, the choir gave a stirring performance, the programme chosen by Musical Director Juliet Rossiter. Accompanist was Rev’d William Lambert, in very familiar surroundings, as St Twynnells is one of the five South Pembrokeshire churches of which he is Priest-in-Charge.

The concert was organised by church member and choir baritone Edward Morris. MC Matthew John was in his usual top form.

The choir was delighted to welcome soloist Mirelle Ryan who chose songs from the shows and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, earning a standing ovation after hitting the highest notes in ‘Think of me’ from ‘Phantom of the Opera’. She was accompanied by Juliet.

Three of the audience joined the choir ranks for the encore ‘American Trilogy’ and Rev’d William closed the concert with a blessing.

Church ladies provided excellent refreshments and they were thanked by choir secretary Dave Powell.

The Remembrance concert will take place at Monkton Priory Church on Friday, November 7, at 7pm.