LAUNCH OF HISTORY OF
PENDYRUS MALE CHOIR
A 20 minute DVD was shown of the book and all its memories came flooding back with many missing choristers which left a lump in the throat.
French Horn
A successful launch of 'History in the Making'
of Cor Meibion Pendyrus (1924 - 2008) compiled
and written by Cyil Jones was held on Wednesday 25 June at Coleg
Morgannwg, Llwynypia Community Centre and that include a photographic
exhibition of 84 years of music making concluding with a performance by the
2008 choir.
Introduced by Pendyrus' Chairman Creighton Lewis,
the audience were gibe a brief talk by Cyril Jones, followed by a DVD
presntation illustrating the historical development of the choir. In the
audience were a number of direct descendants of the early visionary founding
fathers.
The evening concluded with a short performance by the choir with
pieces of music that reflected the earas of the four conductors in the
choir's history, Arthur Duggan, Glan Lewis, Glynne Jones and John Samuel.
Each copy of the 'History in the Making'
is available by donation of £10. To obtain your copy,
e-mail the choir
.
photo: Creighton Lewis
Mayor Cllr. Maggie Smith reflecting on the book and history of Pendyrus Male Choir and praising the choir as wonderful ambassadors for both Rhondda and Wales.
photo: Creighton Lewis
Presentations were made to 10 people including Musical Director John Samuel, Accompanist Gavin Parry (far right), former accompanist Bryan Davies (left) and the longest serving Choir Secretary John Lewis (2nd right), Mrs Ieuan Gwynne (2nd left) on behalf of her husband who was the longest serving Choir President in its history and office staff.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
On Wednesday 25th June 2008, at Coleg Morgannwg, Llwynypia, the Pendyrus Male Choir launched “History in the Making”, a record in words and pictures of the Choir from its foundation in May 1924 to 2008. It was compiled and edited by Cyril Jones (Chorister 1958-66, Stage Manager 1966-69 and Vice-President 2005). The guests at the launch included the Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Tâf (Councillor Margaret Davies), Councillors Jane Ward, Mark Adams, Robert Bevan and Lionel Langford, Mrs Mary Gwynne (representing our President Emeritus Dr Ieuan Gwynne), Vice-Presidents Alun Brunt (Chairman of Pendyrus Trust), Mrs Margaret Gibbs, and Edward Hopkins and Glyn James (both former Mayors), our former accompanist Bryan Davies, Beryl Watts and Glenna Hatton who have appeared as soloists with Pendyrus in the UK and overseas, Life Members Idwal Davies, Ken Marshall, Mervyn Morgan (Financial Secretary 1956-85) and Russ Willis, other former choristers, and Dean Powell (Publicity Officer of Treorchy Male Choir).
The proceedings were opened by our Creighton Lewis OBE (Chairman), Cyril Jones and the Mayor, and a half-hour DVD highlighting the main events and personalities in Pendyrus’ 84-year history. Choir and Guests then adjourned for refreshments, and the opportunity to view the comprehensive and impressive exhibition of photographs which Cyril and the Staff of Pontygwaith Regeneration Partnership had arranged in the foyer, alongside a collection of programmes, trophies and other memorabilia from our past (some of which have rarely been seen in public before), and to acquire copies of “History in the Making”.
The Foreword to the book is by Huw Tregelles Williams OBE (former Head of Music BBC Wales), and there are contributions by his predecessor Mansel Thomas OBE and by Mervyn Burtch (both composers whose works we have performed), by Dr Geraint Stanley Jones CBE (former Controller of BBC Wales and Chief Executive of S4C). Dr Ieuan Gwynne (President 1966-2008), Creighton Lewis OBE (Chairman since 1987), Stuart Burrows MBE with whom we have shared the stage on many occasions,
and John Cynon Jones (Musical Director Emeritus of Treorchy). There are extensive extracts from the diary of Dai Will Jones (a founder-member), biographical notes on our Presidents, Musical Directors and Accompanists, tributes to three choristers who achieved 50 years’ unbroken membership, and poems by Bryan Davies and Joseph George. The book’s 126 pages also contain an amazing collection of photographs (many previously unpublished), quotations from international press coverage over the years, and “statistics” covering our Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Officers, 54 Annual Concerts in Ferndale and 6 in Cardiff, 60 St David’s Hall concerts, 51 appearances with Orchestras, 120 with Bands, and 98 with other Choirs, “Openings and Anniversaries”, commercial recordings, radio and television, national and “semi-national” eisteddfodau, nearly 1000 concerts in Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, thirteen overseas tours, and much, much more
The Choir is indebted to Cyril for his meticulous research, and for the time and energy he has invested in this project. The result is an information-packed book which we are proud to present to friends worldwide.
John Lewis
July 2008