Can you imagine the surprised and delighted faces of Tenby Male Choir and supporters when their coach arrived to take them to Shrewsbury last Friday?

It was none other than the one used by the Welsh Rugby team to transport them to International matches. Resplendent with the Welsh dragon on the side of the coach and Team Wales on the back it must have confused onlookers as they wondered where the Welsh team were headed.

Never in the history of away trips for the choir was so much comfort and luxury provided. Some passengers were even able to find out which players normally sat in their seat!

Our coach driver Callum did a great job ferrying us to and from Shrewsbury and to the concert and Afterglow session before returning us safely to our hotel in the heart of Shrewsbury. We stayed at the Lion Hotel in Wyle Cop.

Like many buildings in Shrewsbury the hotel was built on the side of the hill so each floor was on several different levels. Such was the array of corridors and short flights of stairs you could easily lose your sense of direction (well I did anyway).

It was tempting to use a Satnav to find the way from our room to the reception area. When walking from a friendly inn near the hotel to a chosen restaurant David James used his smart phone to give a number of friends directions. His friends followed his instructions easily but he and Gloria managed to get themselves lost en route!

Whilst in Shrewsbury some of us had a guided historical walk in the centre of Shrewsbury whilst others opted for a river cruise. We were all pleasantly surprised with the quirkiness of Shrewsbury with its abundance of timbered buildings, myriad narrow alleyways, friendly local people, welcoming pubs and restaurants and last, but not least, an abundance of independent clothes, shoes and book shops providing retail therapy.

One winding cobbled alleyway even had a Harry Potter shop. The Loggerheads Inn on Church Street displays a sign offering ‘Hubby’ Day Care for ladies who would like to ‘shop in peace’.

Tenby Male Choir joined Shrewsbury Police Male Choir to sing at the Baptist Church on the western outskirts of the town. We were formally welcomed by the Mayor of Shrewsbury Peter Nutting.

Our lads looked resplendent as usual in DJs with daffodil button holes. Shrewsbury had bright blue blazers and colourful ties providing a contrast.

Our hosts were very generous in allowing Tenby to perform two sets to their one before the choirs combined for the finale. It was refreshing to see that neither the choirs nor their MDs had music or words in front of them during the performance.

Shrewsbury choir sang a variety of numbers under the direction of their MD Jim Edmunds, who hales from Brynmawr. They were accompanied by Pauline Morris.

We were treated to numbers from Les Miserables, popular songs including You’ll Never Walk Alone and ended with a rousing rendition of When The Saints Go Marching In. What a way to end their set!

During their performance they also gave an evocative performance of Tell My Father from The Civil War Musical.This very moving plea from a soldier wanting his father to know that he had died bravely ends with the verse “Tell him how I wore the grey, Just the way that he taught me, Tell my father not to cry, Then say goodbye”.

Tenby followed their example and performed a varied programme under the direction of Wilbur (Ian Williams) our MD and were accompanied by Jill (no relation) Williams who, as usual, scrubbed up well for the occasion. Dave Blackmore, our MC, did a sterling job announcing the songs and amusing everyone with his questionable sense of humour. Audience participation was greatly aided by our host choir and our efforts were proclaimed to be “tidy”.

Wilbur’s arrangement of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah was described by one of the audience afterwards as amazing and questions were asked as to when the choir would bring out a new CD and would this be included? In their second set John (the milk) Butland and (young) Kevin Morgan provided a polished duet during Working Man.

The finale with both choirs gave a rousing performance of Morte Christe and An American Trilogy. They were joined for the last item by a number of choristers who were in the audience. The Welsh National Anthem was then sung by both choirs and most of the audience.

At the end of the concert a collection was made on behalf of Severn Hospice. The charity provides care and treatment for patients and their families in the area in specialised units and in patients’ own homes.

It was an International event but rather than being Wales V England it was Wales + England as we had a mixture of both nations in each choir.

After the concert we were whisked away to the home of Shrewsbury’s Football team at New Meadow. Shrewsbury Police Choir had very kindly booked a suite where we could enjoy an Afterglow with a sumptuous buffet provided. Both choirs and their guests were soon enjoying the camaraderie which follows joint concerts knowing that the job had been well done.

We are very grateful for the hospitality provided by our host choir which included being welcomed at the hotel, organising the town walk and the concert and providing such an enjoyable Afterglow. Their Chairman Doug Crumpton and Secretary Peter Nottle had obviously worked very hard on our behalf.

This was a brilliant end to a successful season meeting up with new people and catching up with friends who don’t get together nearly enough. We did miss the company of some of the choristers who were unable to attend.

A lively,enjoyable weekend but equally lovely to return to a peaceful friendly Pembrokeshire.

Pop along to the County Club on a Tuesday or Thursday evening if you would like to find out if you would enjoy a good singsong and a few drinks with this friendly bunch of brothers!

Di Mumford