AFTER a short summer break, Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir was back in Regency Hall, Saundersfoot on September 7, with a bang.

The concert was held in aid of the RNLI, and a welcome to the choir was given by Saundersfoot RNLI Vice-chair Pam Mortimer.

The choir began with three items and received warm applause from the capacity audience.

Alyson Griffiths then stepped forward to play two solos on her flute; Moonlight Serenade and James Galway's Annie's Song.

Alyson has been a loyal member of the choir for over 30 years and her late father, 1st Tenor Glyn Smith was so proud to hear her playing and singing.

Then Alyson sang a duet with accompanist, Jenny Griffiths. Their rendition of Paper Roses and You are my sunshine was assisted by both choir and audience alike.

The choir were in the process of wrapping up the first half when a major distraction occurred, in the form of a beautiful, 15-month-old little girl, who wandered through the audience, quietly smiling and waving as she went.

A raffle was duly drawn at half time and then a vote of thanks was given by Pam.

Choir compere Phil Lloyd then invited the father of the little girl to come to the front with her so that the whole audience could meet her. Gwen, as the choir now know her, took her applause with ease and after smiling sweetly and waving, Gwen said "Bye bye" and went back to join proud mum.

The choir started the second half with two songs, the second being Bring him home from Les Miserables.

As the concert was to raise funds for the RNLI, the choir then sang their official anthem Home from the Sea.

Three new soloists, John Marenghi, Matthew John and Phil Lloyd, sang the verses, while the choir and audience sang the chorus.

As these gents are all tenors it was left to 1st Bass Ron Rees to come forward and even the score slightly and give his rendition of The Working Man to bring the solo spots to a close.

Then a surprise to all gathered as Phil introduced the conductor and accompanist, who were seen to pull up a second chair at the piano. The mother and daughter duo, Chris and Jen, then played a warmup piece, described by them as the 1st movement of the celebrated Chopsticks.

The pair then requested that they be taken more seriously and played a very professional performance, with absolutely no ad libs or hilarity at all.

A rare commodity was then presented in the form of a New Second Tenor, namely Tony Hedley.

The choir then completed the concert and then the audience stood and joined in singing the national anthem as well as the Welsh anthem.

During our recent short summer break, well deserved, the choir, their wives and some of the choir widows were invited by David and Janette Halsted to an evening at their microbrewery at the Commons in Pembroke.

David provided information as to the workings and production of the apple juice and cider. They were entertained by Alistair Campbell on Saxophone and the Brian Jobson Duo.