A LARGE crowd enjoyed a joint concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of Neyland Ladies Choir last week.

St Davids and St Patricks RC Church in Haverfordwest was packed for the concert on June 3 which saw the choir joined by Singing for Pleasure, under the musical direction of Mark Heron.

The ladies of Neyland Ladies Choir are enjoying their celebrations this year and are aiming to sing to as many people in the county and to raise as much for charity as possible this year.

Singing for Pleasure is a 40-strong choir of ladies from WI groups in south east Wales started around seven years ago.

Musical director Mark is originally from Haverfordwest and he brought 35 members of the choir with him for the concert.

He has musical history with Lynne Kelleher, musical director for Neyland Ladies Choir.

They have performed together many times in the past and this concert was a wonderful opportunity for them to collaborate once again.

The choirs opened the evening with a joint anthem ‘Cantate Hodie’ and then Neyland Ladies performed 4 pieces including Saints Go Marchin’ which is a new piece for them. Singing for Pleasure then sang four pieces including a great version of Putting on the Ritz.

Mark, an accomplished flautist, then entertained the large audience with 2 lovely pieces for the flute – Cadair Idris (a traditional Welsh Folk Song) and Danny Boy (a traditional Irish air). The concert concluded with the 2 joint items – Flying Free conducted by Lynne and The Lord Bless You and Keep You conducted by Mark.

The choirs would like to thank the very appreciative audience who helped to raise over £600 for the Paul Sartori Foundation and also the ladies of the church who provided very welcome tea and cakes in the church hall afterwards.

The next concert in aid of Cancer Research will be in the Methodist Chapel in Saundersfoot on Thursday, June 29 starting at 7.30pm.