P&DMVC: A fortnight ago performing before thousands in the international MEN arena, Good Friday back performing in a rural chapel near Pembroke. The difference? The same quality of performance, the same commitment to their music and listeners evident still, but returning to the heart of their community, deeper emotions at work for choir and audience. Home is where the heart is, is it not? There was added feeling insofar as Gilead is where their soprano soloist Joan Lewis worships.

Margaret Brown (elder), welcomed the choir with kind words and prayers, before presenter Phil Lloyd's announcement that Aled Jones would present the P&DMVC's 60th anniversary concert at Folly Farm in September - he mentioned tickets might be in short supply, a tongue in cheek understatement if ever there was one!

The choir got to work soon after and it was obvious that this was going to be a night to remember, evident from the first audience reaction.

P&DMVC are fortunate in being able to rely on a variety of performers who can add colour and variety to a concert. Henry Johnston with 'How Dear the Father's Love for Us' and the family Lloyd quartet of Jenny, Steffan, Chris and Phil with a sensitive four part harmony 'Take me Just as I am.'

Margaret offered an appropriate reading for the interval, before news that a number of visitors from away were present. VP's Ted and Lynette Abbott had travelled from Essex as they often do, but international visitors were present too. A Japanese Brussels diplomat Yoone Yamada attended with daughter Akie. How had they come to be present? This reporter has no idea whatsoever, but conversation with them later confirmed they were stunned and amazed by the choir and musical team's performances.

The choir were indeed on top form and deserved all the praise on offer, the audience unrestrained in appreciation.

Sam Thomas gave us a quiet but beautifully controlled interpretation of Psalm 121, 'I Lift Mine Eyes', before Chris Lloyd and Joan Lewis starred once more with a duet, 'How Great Though Art', the audience rising in spontaneous, loud and lasting appreciation of a wonderfully delivered contribution.

Finishing the concert with two old favourites, the choir were obliged to offer an encore before the audience were content.

The occasion was a joyful one musically, but tinged with a deal of sadness and regret for choristers and musical team alike. Tom 'The Hair' Evans had announced at the previous Tuesday practice that he was to leave the choir to take up a teaching position in Moscow. Tom is as an agreeable, personable, likeable and intelligent a young man as you could wish to meet and a tremendous credit to his family and he truly represents a significant loss to P&DMVC. That practice was an emotional one indeed for all present as Tom has endeared himself to everyone within P&DMVC. The fact that his age had dropped the choir average significantly was a totally unimportant factor! He does however intend to leave his father John behind as a P&DMVC chorister and that is a major consolation. All at P&DMVC naturally wish him every success and God speed in his future life and career, convinced he will be a fine ambassador for Wales wherever his path takes him. He knows too his old seat and a warm welcome await him should he ever wish to return to the choral ranks of PDMVC.

Later at the feast in the hall, (it can't be called less!) prepared by Margaret's ladies, choir chairman Frank Harries presented Tom with a memento prepared by chorister George Lewis (artist extraordinary), of the recent Garrison Chapel concert. The Welsh Guards and P&DMVC are pictured together outside, but with Tom standing in splendid isolation in the doorway. Bandmaster Craig Bywater had jokingly refused permission for Tom to join the photo until his hair had been cut. Tom does possess a significant amount of hair it must be said! More than enough for many hirsute challenged P&DMVC choristers to have transplant weaves knitted across their pates similar to those seen recently on a famous singer/songwriter and a footballer!

A.S.