On Saturday, 23 October, in front of a sell out audience at the Cranleigh Arts Centre, the London Welsh Rugby Club Choir gave their first performance in two years. From the opening bars of the traditional Welsh song Men of Harlech it was clear the audience were in for an evening of quality choral music. The programme included a broad mix spanning several genres, revealing the choir’s abilities and included two duets.
The concert was co-hosted by Shaun Parry Jones, a resident of Bramley and a person with Welsh blood running through his veins. The choir’s Music Director, Michael Wyn Jones, introduced the programme, which was divided into four sections, with each section including songs following a specific theme. Michael has worked and sung with several national and international vocal ensembles, and he also held the baton when conducting the choirs at the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympic Games in 2012.
The twenty-five strong choir was delighted at long last to be able to perform in front of a live audience. This was even more evident when, following the concert, they went for liquid refreshments in The Three Horseshoes where they gave another impromptu performance, much to the delight of the regular customers.
The concert, organised by Cranleigh Rotary, was an outstanding success. As a result, donations will be made to three local organisations that support young people in and around Cranleigh – Cranleigh Scouts, Cranleigh Guides and St Joseph’s Specialist Trust.
The concert was generously sponsored by Cranleigh Distribution Services Ltd., Lynn Murray & Co., Hans Christmas Andersen, Berkley Homes Ltd. and two anonymous sponsors. Cranleigh Rotary and Cranleigh Arts Centre hope the choir will make a return visit next year. For more information about the choir go to: www.lwrcc.uk or follow the choir on Facebook and Twitter.
The Club has also been organising the collection of Christmas shoeboxes for deprived children in Romania, and clearing some of the plant bedding areas near the village post office. During December, Cranleigh Rotary will be sponsoring the Santa Dash and collecting for charity in the village high street on 17 and 18 December. For further information go to: www.cranleighrotary.org.uk
