Three intrepid choristers have raised nearly £3,000 for charity by cycling 180 miles to a London concert.
The trio of Côr Meibion Talgarth Male Choir choristers decided they would not join the rest of the choir on board the luxury coach to the Royal Albert Hall, but would cycle the distance from the choir’s headquarters at Gwernyfed RFC.
The London event was the Welsh Association of Male Choirs’ Massed Choirs concert, where more than 500 men sang in aid of Prostate Cymru.
The charity will also benefit from the proceeds of the cycle ride, which has so far raised £2,800.
The fundraising page is still open for anyone who wishes to support: https://www.justgiving.com/team/teamtalgarthmalevoicechoir
“Twmpa” bicycle designer and builder, Andrew Dix, local farmer Andrew Giles and Dermot Doyne manager at Whitney Sawmills, set off from Talgarth two days before the concert, aiming to reach the halfway point on that evening.
Their overnight resting place was the The Fleece in Whitney, Oxfordshire, where they enjoyed a much-needed meal - and a few beers to deaden the pain!
Fully recovered, the trio set out the following morning, crossing The Chilterns before following the Thames Valley into London. They arrived at the Royal Albert Hall in mid-afternoon and rejoined the choir for the evening at the Tara Copthorne Hotel in Kensington.
The concert was an unforgettable occasion, especially for those choristers singing for the first time. The audience response was fantastic, making it an emotional experience for the performers.
There was a wide range of music from musicals, spirituals, opera and traditional Welsh songs.
The evening’s guests broadened the event with some truly outstanding performances.
Welsh cellist Stefan Morris was on hand to charm everyone with harmonies performed on a 300-year-old instrument along with the warm and graceful voice of Welsh tenor Osian Wyn Bowen and finally the lovely dulcet tones of Parti Llwchwr ladies choir conducted by Janet V Jones.
The afterglow continued well into the night, with Massed Choir conductor Dr Alwyn Humphreys MBE joining the choristers in the hotel bar.
A quiet Talgarth choir boarded the coach to join the congregation at Capel y Boro Welsh Congregational Church on Sunday morning, where they joined in their morning worship, and sang “Rachie” and “Deus Salutis” as well as the hymns selected for the service. The leadership team there provided the choir with a delicious lunch before they set off on our journey back to Talgarth.
Boro Chapel Minister, Neil Evans said: “I am full of admiration for what you and your colleagues did raising money for such a great cause by cycling all that way. You should be really proud of yourselves.
“When this was announced at the Royal Albert Hall concert I was so proud of you guys and was doubly proud and honoured that you were coming to sing to us in the Borough the following morning and that I might have the chance then to congratulate you in person!”
The choir will next perform at Talgarth Town Hall on May 25th, when Llantrisant Male Choir will make a return visit for a joint concert. There will also be the presentation of a cheque to Wales Air Ambulance - who will receive the proceeds of a recent joint concert with Cantorion y Gelli at Hay-on-Wye.
Prostate Cymru is the leading prostate health charity in Wales supporting men with benign prostate disease and prostate cancer.
The charity has no national or government funding and relies on the kindness and generosity of its fundraisers and volunteers to fulfil its core aims.