Côr Meibion Llanelli – Llanelli Male Choir
O n a lovely sunny Saturday evening,13th May, 2023, Graham Freeman and Byron Thomas together unveiled the latest of our Blue Plaques in the presence of forty members of the choir, a large number of friends and supporters, and Llanelli Rural Councillors. Andrew Stephens and Susan Philips accompanied by members of Llanelli Community Heritage.
Graham Freeman, a prominent and long-standing member of the choir, sponsored this the latest of our Blue Plaques which commemorates the original formation in 1964 of the choir at what was then the Saron Vestry, now the Saron Community Centre. A founder member from that meeting fifty-nine years ago, Byron Thomas, was present, still singing and in fine voice.
The choir's musical achievements have taken the name of Llanelli across the United Kingdom and around the world. In a brief speech of of poignant reminiscence Graham Freeman said they were ambassadors for Llanelli and Wales wherever they went taking Welsh choral singing to the world. "We took Llanelli to the world and the world took to Llanelli".
They have sung at the Albert Hall in London, and at prestigious concert venues in the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, and at Australia's great Sydney Opera House.
The formal unveiling was followed, of course, by a concert. Wynford Harris, chairman, introduced the choir and Stephen Hopkins who conducted them through a varied programme including Dixieland, Battle Hymn of the Republic and Hush, Little Baby in an 'American Trilogy'. There were several songs in English and Welsh including one from Les Miserables, and the ladies of Côr Curiand joined the choir for Anfonaf Angel. A few tears were shed at the singing of Gwahoddiad. but the audience joined in happily and enthusiastically with the final song of the evening You'll Never Walk Alone from "Carousel", and a suitably rousing performance of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
It was an emotional but joyous evening which we hope will be repeated.
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