Over the years, Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir has performed at churches where one of its vice presidents and long time supporter, the Rev. Martin Cox, ministers.

In the latest of their autumn concerts, choristers received a warm welcome from Rev. Cox and friends to Templeton Church, the congregation including a visitor from Melbourne, Australia. And MC Phil Lloyd welcomed, in turn, curate Rev. Shirley Murphy who was hearing the choir for the first time.

It is a special pleasure for the choir to stage with guest artistes and so it proved again with the opportunity to hear four very varied items enchantingly sung by soprano Rachel Hickman - from operatic (Che Faro) to music hall and ‘I’m An Old Fashioned Girl’. Rachel was accompanied by choir musical director Christine Lloyd.

Templeton church has lovely acoustics and the choir was in fine form, achieving more mastery over ‘Dry Bones’ which has proved challenging to many in the ranks to get the ‘bones’ sequences correct.

Three songs from ‘Les Miserables’ and the special setting of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ were particularly enjoyed, and the audience joined in ‘‘Siyahambe’, a South African traditional melody, and the favourite hymn ‘Love Divine’.

If the first half, regular soloist Alyson Griffiths played ‘Cavatina’ on flute and Carole Rees and Jenny Griffiths shared the accompanist duties. By chance, Jenny was also at the keyboard when audience and choir joined together to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her.

Gifts were presented to Rachel and the choir ladies and refreshments were enjoyed in the church. The choir’s senior member, Frank Harries, proposed thanks to the church ladies for the excellent refreshments.