Monmouth’s Male Voice Choir gave a gala performance in regimental company last month.

“The Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh gave us an incredibly powerful and rousing performance and Monmouth Male Voice Choir just gets better and better” said High Sheriff Kevin Thomas.

Mr Thomas and his wife Elaine were guests of honour at the choir’s Charity Gala Concert in aid of ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity in the Blake Theatre.

The mayor of Monmouth, Felicity Cotton, David Davies MP and Maj. Gen Lennox Napier also attended.

In a moving tribute, compere Aneurin Hughes recalled the story of Hedd Wyn, the bardic name of the poet Private Ellis Humphrey Ellis of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who wrote the winning poem for the 1917 National Eisteddfod of Wales held in Birkenhead.

Tragically he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Pilkem Ridge in France on 31st July 1917 a week before he would have been awarded the highest honour of the Eisteddfod - The Chairing of the Bard.

The chair was draped in black as a symbol of respect for the ‘hero of all heroes who died on the battlefield of all battlefields.’

After the tribute the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh, conducted by Major Denis Burton, played the French Military Band and the choir sang the well known Welsh hymn ‘I bob un sy’n fyddlon’ followed by the medley of First World War songs.

This was followed by the band playing the Evening Hymn and Last Post.

High Sheriff of Gwent Kevin Thomas said: “The Regimental Band gave us an incredibly powerful and rousing performance and Monmouth Male Voice Choir just gets better and better. Rarely do you see an audience that is so engaged and so thoroughly enjoying themselves.”

For further information, call Huw Edwards on 07967 007701.