THIS year the Rhayader and District Male Voice Choir are celebrating 60 years since the Choir was formed way back in 1957.

Throughout the year the Choir have been participating in a number of celebratory events leading up to the end of October when the Choir will conclude with a short tour to Ypres in Belgium and a performance at the Menin Gate.

It all started back in April on Easter Sunday when the Choir presented a Grand Gala Concert at the Rhayader Leisure Centre which was attended by a large audience.

In June the Choir were honoured to perform at the Ladies British International Bowling Tournament held at Llandrindod Wells.

More recently the Choir arranged and hosted a Gala Concert for all six of the male voice choirs in Breconshire and Radnorshire, which was held in the Morganwg Hall at the Royal Welsh Show Ground at Llanelwedd and which was attended by a very large audience.

Throughout the year the Choir have continued to complete their domestic concerts throughout Mid-Wales and the Border Counties together with a series of summer concerts at the Glen Usk Hotel in Llandrindod Wells.

On Monday, October 7 the Choir will hold a Grand Celebration Banquet at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod which will be attended by all Choir members, partners and as many ex-members who have served the Choir since its formation back in 1957 as are able to make it.

The highlight of the year’s celebrations will come at the end of October when the Choir will engage in a short tour of Belgium. During this tour the Choir will be honoured to sing at the famous Menin Gate in Ypres which will co-inside with the famous Last Post Ceremony which is held every evening of the year.

This year is of special significance as it commemorates 100 years since the end of the 1914-18 Great War.

To honour this special occasion the Choir will perform a particular song appropriate for the event and written and composed by two of its own members. The song is entitled ‘100 Years from Passchendale’.

This has been written by its Music Committee Chairman, Mr Adrian Jones, and composed to music by its talented Accompanist, Bethan Rees.

To commemorate this special year in the Choir’s history the Choir have also produced a special 18-page glossy souvenir brochure which includes a number of photographs of the Choir down through the six decades and also a publication, ‘A Brief History’, of the Choir, researched by former Chairman and present Press Officer Graham Benbow.

Leading up to the end of the year the Choir are involved in several concerts throughout the county and during December will be visiting several of the local Nursing Homes to entertain the residents, concluding on December 23 with a Grand Gala Concert in the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells in entertaining the many visitors who spend Christmas in Mid-Wales.

It can only be hoped that this famous little male voice choir will continue to entertain audiences throughout Mid-Wales, the Borders and further afield for another 60 years.