All-action performances by the three winning South Pembrokeshire school choirs set the scene for the festive season when they took part in the annual Christmas concert arranged by Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir.

Held at Pennar Community Church on Tuesday, December 10, the concert attracted a large audience, many of whom were in support of the children from the schools – Pembroke’s Golden Grove, Sageston and Pembroke Dock Community.

They were welcomed by the Minister, the Rev Liz Squires, and Choir MC Phil Lloyd. Phil explained that the competition had been extremely close this year with the judges – Conductor Christine Lloyd and choristers Tony Ward and Winston Owens –awarding joint second place to Golden Grove and Sageston with Pembroke Dock Community School taking top spot for the first time ever.

The Male Voice began the concert with two items including ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ with solo verses by Ron Rees. The accompaniment was shared by Jenny Griffiths and Carole Rees.

Lots of actions characterised the performances of all three schools. Although depleted in numbers the seven Golden Grove choristers earned long applause for ‘Around The Christmas Tree’ and ‘Jingle Bells’.

Sageston’s choristers, dressed as wartime evacuees, sang a selection of wartime favourites to mark the recent 75th anniversary of D-Day, before swopping to Christmas hats to deliver ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’.

The Male Voice returned with the very seasonal ‘We Three Kings’ – with the ‘king’ solos by second bass Meurig Rees, first bass Chris Rooker and first tenor Matthew John – and the ever popular ‘For As Long As I Have Music’.

Pembroke Dock Community School choir showed why this year they had won the judges’ vote with a polished performance of ‘Not Far From Bethlehem’, which included impressive part singing, and an action-packed ‘A Friend Like Me’, from the musical Aladdin.

Choristers, teachers and Rev Squires were recruited by Christine Lloyd to lead the assembly in ‘The Christmas Alphabet’, each holding up a letter from the word Christmas – the verses helpfully on the big screen TV.

Second place Golden Grove and Sageston will share each for six months the Gordon Davies Cup presented in memory of a former President of the choir. Present were Gordon’s grandsons, Joe and Dan.

The Pembroke Dock winners received the Wilf Johns Cup, which was being presented for the 28th consecutive time. Mr Johns was a choir founder member. A cheque for £100 was also presented to the winners with the runners-up receiving £75 each.

And from funds raised by the concert a further donation, for £500, was received for Christian Aid by the Rev Roger Hart.

Each Christmas season the Male Voice Choir makes individual presentations for long service. This year six choristers were the recipients:

10 years service: Dave Brinn, First Tenor; Mark Fawcett, First Bass, and Huw Morgan, Second Tenor.

20 years: Steve Lloyd, Second Bass.

25 years: Royston Griffiths, Frist Bass.

30 years: Ron Rees, First Bass.

There was a surprise in store as all four choirs joined together to sing Christmas greetings to the audience. A red coat and white whiskers heralded Santa’s arrival with a sack full of gifts for the children. Santa’s voice sounded much like that of the Male Voice’s senior member, Frank Harries, who was surprisingly absent from his customary place in the front row of the second tenors!