Locals get an unexpected vocal treat…
by Brian MacReamoinn.

Saturday night regulars at a Wilton pub got a bit of a shock recently when a large Welsh choir descended on the establishment and treated everyone to an impromptu gig.
Earlier that evening, the Cowbridge Male Voice Choir (pictured) from south Wales had given a special concert at the town’s magnificent parish church in aid of resident Dawn Conrad, who suffers from a very rare and long-term disease called autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy. Her father sings with the choir and organised the visit to help raise funds for research into Dawn’s condition.
The final echoes of loud applause had faded into the summer sky as the visitors retired to The Bear Inn across the road. The pub’s clientele were enjoying a quiet drink when suddenly in came the equivalent of three rugby union teams. Forty-odd singers plus the musical director and accompanist soon filled the place with their jovial presence. Choir members looked resplendent in their green jackets, decorated with a ribbon in the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine.
After a round of drinks to oil their vocal chords following a stirring performance in the church, the second (unscheduled) concert of the evening got under way. It began with one solo voice then quickly became a wave of warm joyous harmonies which spread throughout the pub. As well as Welsh ballads, the choir diplomatically catered to other corners of the British Isles with Fields of Athenry, Flower of Scotland and even Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
The camaraderie was infectious, with everyone in the place singing along. Then it was announced that Tom Jones, who at that exact moment was supposed to be appearing on stage at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, was in fact among those present. This news was greeted with considerable enthusiasm and, soon, the unmistakeable tune of Delilah was booming around the room.
‘Tom Jones’ then continued the rugby theme by leading his fellow singers in a rousing rendition of Hymns and Arias. This song was written by Max Boyce, a name that might be familiar to more mature NBVM readers, as he used to provide pre-match entertainment at Wales’s home fixtures. During this, the Wilton locals sportingly joined in the chorus, despite knowing that the lyrics celebrate a humiliating defeat of England by their fierce rivals at Twickenham.
It was a great end to a great night, then the choir’s coach arrived and spirited this little part of south Wales away back “across the bridge”.