The very prestigious Male Voice Choir Concert, run by the Society, has become an annual event. Nowadays, it is always held in Christ Church, London Rd. In 1968 the Society felt able to invite the London Welsh Choir to give a Concert in the Hoffman Social Club Hall in Rectory Lane. It was so successful that, in 1969, the well-known Pontardulais Male Voice Choir travelled by coach from S. Wales. In those days many miners in the choir came between shifts. The famous ham and salad and apple tart tea (this Chelmsford Choir tea has become famous throughout Wales!) was laid on ready for the men�s arrival. BUT, they did not arrive. It was only through some Society members going out to look for them, that the coaches were found to have lost their way! All was well! The Concert was a resounding success and the Society members hosted all the choristers in their own homes over night. Success is said to breed success and so it was that in the following three years, various S. Wales choirs came to Chelmsford each June. In 1973 the first N.Wales choir came from Froncysyllte and so it has continued to the present day. As time went on, the new Civic Theatre became the venue but the acoustics were not ideal for a large male voice choir. The stage draperies and the upholstery etc. were too absorbing for the sound. Now the choirs delight in singing in Christ Church. The large hall beneath makes an excellent place to host the famous tea. What seems like hundreds of cups of tea are handed round thirsty choristers after a long journey. A number of willing hands provided by kind Society members do all the work. The meal is enjoyed in time for rehearsal in the Church usually with two or more soloists present. This pattern has hardly changed over the years having been well tried and tested.
We have, in the Welsh Society, always been very honoured by the presence of the Mayor of Chelmsford, both in this concert and at the annual St David�s Day Dinner. There is very little time for the helpers to get ready to be in the church, selling programmes and greeting the capacity audience , then joining the excitement of welcoming the choir as it files onto the stage for another great Welsh Male Voice Choir Concert
After the concert there has always been a reception for the choir held at varying venues over the years, the more recent being at the Miami Hotel. When the choirmen were hosted in homes this reception had a dual purpose. It provided an opportunity for hosts to meet up with their guests, who until then were perfect strangers. But not for long! A few drinks together and they would possibly find they were second cousins or that his auntie lived two doors down the street from my sister�s mother-in-law! More probably his sister was in my class in school! Yes! We�ve had all those. Normally a wonderful informal concert follows, given by choristers and known as the Afterglow, going on until the small hours. Yet another song the next morning in the car park before we wave �Goodbye� to the coaches, after yet another wonderful concert, the culmination of months of planning and hard, but enjoyable work. |
