Retired teacher Ednyfed Williams was only three when a famous male voice choir was formed in 1933 – 90 years later they’re both still here and still singing.

Ednyfed joined Côr Meibion Trelawnyd in 1955 and on Saturday, July 1, he will take his place in the bass section at their 90th Anniversary Concert, alongside tenor and Gio Compario star Wynne Evans at Rhyl’s Pavilion Theatre.

As well as celebrating the momentous milestone, the choir is aiming to support Tŷ Gobaith/Hope House with a raffle to raise money for the charity which has hospices in the Conwy Valley and Morda, near Oswestry, where it provides a vital service for children, young people and their families across most of North Wales and into Shropshire.

The choir, which rehearses every Tuesday evening at the Memorial Hall in Trelawnyd, is also planning to launch its new CD on the night of the concert.

 

The Leader:

Two years ago the choir, whose vice presidents include Oscar-nominated actor Sir Jonathan Pryce, featured in a touching documentary, Men Who Sing, directed by Ednyfed’s son, Dylan, which highlighted the choir’s desperate campaign to recruit more members.

Last year the documentary went on to win a BAFTA Cymru award with Dylan being named as the best director in the factual category.

The recruitment drive worked and 93-year-old Ednyfed now sings alongside the choir’s youngest member, 15-year-old Owain Davies Williams, a pupil at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph.

The age gap of 78 years between Owain and Ednyfed is believed to be UK record.

Owain is among a clutch of younger members who’ve joined the choir recently.

Also among them are 17 year-old Ethan Lanceley, from Connah’s Quay, and Owen Barton Williams, 21, from Carmel, near Holywell.

The Leader:

Father of three Ednyfed, who hails from Frongoch, near Bala, was brought up in Wrexham and now lives in Denbigh.

During his career he taught Welsh at Rhyl High School and was Deputy Head at Ysgol Maes Garmon in Mold.

He puts his longevity and good health down to the beneficial effects of singing and said: “Singing is well known for being good for your health. It’s wonderful for your breathing and for your chest.

“We’ve won the National Eisteddfod seven times and I’ve been in the choir for all those wins – the first was in 1964.

“I’ve been with them to Canada and to Germany, France and Holland."

 

The Leader:

He added: “When I joined the choir more than half of them spoke Welsh and I was singing with people who were from very different backgrounds to me.

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“There were farmers and policemen and there were 14 miners from the Point of Ayr colliery who all lived in the village.

“It’s very different now but we do seem to be able to attract new and younger members. We have a 17-year-old and another young lad of 15 whose grandfather was in the choir.

“I still love it, hearing the different voices blending together, especially when Ann gets us singing quietly. That’s a beautiful sound.

“You see all those people from different backgrounds and they’re all joined by their love of singing.”

  • The Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir’s 90th Anniversary Concert takes place at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl on Saturday, July 1, at 7.30pm when they will be joined on stage by Wynne Evans and soprano Tesni Jones, from St Asaph. 

Tickets priced at £25 are available from www.rhylpavilion.co.uk.