Posts Tagged ‘Dai was There’

A weekend trip to Stoke on Trent proved a great success at the beginning of 1974. The Choir visited a pottery where everyone was presented with a blue ashtray with the Choir’s name on it, keen eyes will note they spelled Caldicot with two t’s – there’s one in the Cabinet on the wall. In…

1973 witnessed a big upheaval in Choir life when on the 8th of March the Conductor, Ralph Hodges, resigned. A special meeting had been held to discuss certain aspects of the general organisation within the Choir and the musical content of concerts. The numbers had now risen to seventy and many felt Mr Hodges was…

1972 commenced with a concert on January 5th at Spencer Works Llanwern, singing at the retired employee’s Dinner. It was an enjoyable evening especially as many choristers were able to meet up with former colleagues from the steelworks. Minutes from a Committee meeting on 14th February noted the Choir funds stood at a healthy £178.28.…

1971 continued in the same vein as the previous year with a steady increase in numbers, many concerts and another win at the Kington Eisteddfod. This time the Choir appeared resplendent in their new uniforms consisting of black blazers, grey trousers, white shirt, black shoes and a new tie. A competition had been held to…

A Committee Meeting held on January 20th 1970 sanctioned the payment of affiliation fees of Three Pounds Ten Shillings to become members of the Welsh Association of Male Choirs, and a further payment of One Shilling per Chorister for insurance purposes. In January a social evening was held at the Haywain Pub where the Choir…

1969 brought more concerts and a small influx of new members including myself. In fact I was entered on the register as number 28, to be followed by Percy Smith, bringing our numbers up to 29. In June, just before I joined, the Choir made its first Eisteddfod appearance singing the test piece ‘An Evening’s…

The first Annual Concert was performed in 1968 at Green Lane School, where the Choir now held their rehearsals. By now the Choir, still under the baton of Ralph Hodges, was accompanied by Mrs Edith Bourton-Tuckwell. The solo artist for the concert was Mrs Ann Richards, who had become a regular performer with the Choir.…

Well, in the beginning I wasn’t as the title may suggest, but I thought I would start by outlining what I know of the Choir’s early years. There are almost no records of the early 1960’s but a brief history can be sketched from a few that still exist and personal memories of the people…