Blackburn South

“Stunning”, “That was brilliant”, “Loved every minute”

The choir was more than happy to support St Edward’s, where we rehearse twice a week, as they celebrated their 50th anniversary. Our concert was also a musical thank you to the church’s neighbours who put up with our parking overflow in surrounding streets on choir nights.

Clearly, a good proportion of the neighbourhood, as well as the church’s congregation, turned out on this Sunday afternoon and the hall soon filled up to capacity.

The choir sang a broad selection of its usual Welsh and English repertoire and the audience was also given the chance to open up with the chorus from Cwm Rhondda and the whole of the resounding Jerusalem.

The son of St Edward’s vicar, Jed Goodluck, impressed patrons with two trumpet numbers.

Fittingly, for the venue, the choir’s own chaplain Rev. Tom Morgan soloed on How Great Thou Art and Welshmen Stephen Lynn and Ed Hughes gave us, respectively, Little Welsh Home and Always There.

As a nod to 6 June being the 66th anniversary of D-Day, we sang the delightful We’ll Gather Lilacs from Perchance to Dream. And to celebrate the forthcoming soccer World Cup in South Africa – as well as honour our South African born accompanist, the choir lustily sang the anthem African Prayer in Xhosa and English.

Finally Roger Bartlett and the choir closed a wonderfully warm and neighbourly concert with the medley from Les Misérables.

After the concert the vicar, Michael Goodluck, gave us a vote of thanks.  His remarks included (to our accompanist) “Lorna, you’re awesome”, and “I had tears in my eyes – did anyone else?” in response to which some twenty hands went up.