Touring party to Wales
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The choir has slowly grown in numbers in recent years, and has currently 58 members.
Touring party to Wales
Choir in Stoke
One of the greatest things of being part of a male voice choir is the camaraderie enjoyed by a group of men who get together once a week to rehearse.
This bonding was complete when we toured to Wales as part of our Centenary celebrations in 2000.
Since
the 100th Annual Concert in April 2000 the Choir completed their Centenary
celebrations with a tour of Wales. Here is a summary of the events of those few
days in the land of song with our hosts Builth Wells Male Voice Choir.
Setting
off from Clydebank on a bright Saturday morning, the Choir were in good spirits
and looking forward to the trip to Wales. After stopping off for lunch, we
arrived at our overnight hotel stop in Chester. With a sumptuous dinner consumed
the choir retired to the bar and, after ousting the house pianist, continued to
entertain the residents late into the evening.
Arriving
at our hotel in Llandrindod Wells in time for Sunday lunch, we then had a short
time to get to know the locals before heading for the Riverside Theatre in
Builth Wells to rehearse for our first concert. Practice completed, tea was
taken with the host choir and the last few nervous minutes ticked by before we
took to the stage.
The
concert was an outstanding success, the choir sang a wonderful programme of
songs including some Scottish items which went down very well. Many members of
the audience remained in the theatre afterwards to sing with the choir members
as we celebrated a momentous occasion in the life of the choir.
The
next day, Monday, we took the opportunity to rest after the exertions of travel
and concert. Some played bowls, some played golf. Others went shopping for gifts
for loved ones back in Scotland. That night we attended a social evening at the
rehearsal rooms which Builth use. Entertained by a local Scottish Dance group,
many older members showed the young’uns how to enjoy an evening out. With the
“deacons” bus leaving the rehearsal rooms (pub) at 11pm it was touch and go
whether the late bus would get the boys (and ladies !) back in time for last
orders at the hotel. We need not have worried, some of our fans had ensured we
did not go without and had “requested” the barman to remain on duty until
our arrival.
During
Tuesday, we visited a lead crystal glass factory, where some members had a go at
cutting their own unique designs, then on to Aberystwyth for a walk among the
shops. That evening saw us entertain in the hotel as guests of the local Rotary
club. A coach tour from Scotland made up part of the audience and once again the
evening was a great success. To show our appreciation for the warm welcome we
had received in Wales, the choir continued to entertain in the bar into the
small hours of the morning.
With
a few bleary eyed members just making the coach, we headed back to Scotland on
Wednesday, exhausted but thrilled to have been to the land of song and had such
a tremendously successful tour.
Much
praise and thanks must go to the two ladies of the Choir, Margaret and Aileen,
who worked so hard to ensure the concerts were the success they proved to be.
Plans are already in hand for another tour in 2002, hopefully to the Potteries as guests of The Daleian Singers.
A most pleasant trip to the Potteries a guests of The Daleian Singers. A report will follow shortly.
Rothesay Tour October 2003
Islay Tour May 2004
This page last updated - 06 April 2007