Latest On Song column – October 16

IT may be 80 years on, but the people of a Dutch city show no signs of ever forgetting the role Welsh soldiers played in their liberation during World War Two.

Back in 2011, I was privileged to join the old Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir at anniversary liberation celebrations in s’Hertogenbosch in the North Brabant Province, Netherlands.

At the time, veterans of 53rd Welsh Division were still able to attend a weekend of liberation commemorations.

This year, there will not be any veterans, but the actions of Welsh soldiers will still be remembered by people who call their homes city Den Bosch.

Thanks for hard-working folk, both here in west Wales and in the Netherlands, the link between Wales and Den Bosch will still be remembered on the last full weekend in October.

One of the key figures in continuing the relationship with Den Bosch is Lieutenant Colonel David Mathias, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed. In recent years, he has been instrumental in securing the services of Welsh choirs and musicians to visit Den Bosch to take part in liberation events.

This year, he has enlisted the support of a team of young singers from Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) from west Wales and Llanelli’s Samuel Wyn-Morris, whose West End credits include performing in Les Miserables.

The LARS singers will be Liam Edwards, Lauren Elizabeth Williams, Darcey Paris George, and James Oakley (all pictured here, left to right). They all study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff.

They will participate in significant events in Den Bosch: services of Remembrance at the Memorial to the 53rd Welsh Division and St. Jan’s Cathedral and perform at a prestigious ‘Welsh concert’ at the newly-built Theater aan de Parade. There will also be a visit to Uden War Cemetery, located outside the city, for another Service of Remembrance.

The singers will be joined by celebrated harpist Dylan Cernyw and the Noteworthy Mixed Choir to fly the flag for Wales in a weekend of events which also includes a concert at Rosmalen.

“It promises to be a very busy and emotional weekend,” said Cerith Owens, who is in charge of the Loud Applause Rising Stars team.

“I’ve attended the liberation weekend events before and the determination of the city of Den Bosch to never forget the role the Welsh played in the liberation of the city is there for all to see.

“The liberation events are very dignified and colourful occasions which show this is a city that will never forget. I know that the singers and musicians from Wales, who will be taking part in the concerts and services, feel very honoured to be invited to represent their country in the Netherlands.”

The Welsh flag is flown at Den Bosch city hall every year to remember the sacrifices of soldiers from the 53rd Welsh Division

The Royal Welsh Bridge in Den Bosch is named in honour of the Army unit that liberated the town from Nazi occupation in 1944, the 53rd Welsh Division – a. division now constituted as the Royal Welsh in today’s army.

The names and ages of each of the 146 Welsh soldiers who died for the town are displayed on the bridge in a very personal civic tribute.

There was a high personal cost to the liberation of Den Bosch.

The battle cost the lives of 253 residents and injured more than 2,000 more. More than 700 of Den Bosch’s buildings were destroyed or smashed beyond repair.

In the years that followed, Den Bosch was rebuilt, but the sacrifices of the Welshmen have never been forgotten.

Cerith Owens said: “When you think that the liberation happened 80 years ago, a time outside of the experience of most of us, then it is remarkable that Den Bosch still continues to commemorate the liberation.

“It just shows how much importance the people of the city still attach to the events of 1944 and the sacrifices made by those brave Welshmen.”

In Carmarthen, this weekend, the ladies of A Choired Taste will be holding a special 10th anniversary concert.

It will be held at The Lyric Theatre on Saturday, October 19, and will be hosted by actress, TV presenter and producer Connie Fisher.

The concert is being billed as ‘A Celebration of Voices’, so you can expect to be dazzled by a dynamic mix of favourite songs and what A Choired Taste’s musical director, Sarah Kirby, describes as ‘mash-ups’ (innovative medleys and musical mixes which have been become the choir’s trademark).

The concert will also feature a special performance by Britain’s Got Talent finalists, the phenomenal gospel choir Northants Sing Out.

A very busy and packed stage will also see performances from Carmarthen Male Voice Choir, Whitland Male Voice Choir, Carmarthen Young Voices, Carmarthen Ukuleles and Saxy Brass.

All proceeds from the event will go towards the choir’s target of raising £10,000 for 10 local charities in the choir’s 10th anniversary year. The choristers are already more than halfway towards their £10,000 target.

Tickets are £15 and £12 and are available from The Lyric box office or from the Theatrau Sir Gar (Carmarthenshire Theatres) website at - https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk/en/shows/a-celebration-of-voices

Meanwhile, Llanelli’s Meibion Elli male choir are planning a fifth anniversary concert on Saturday, November 9.

It will be held at Greenfield Chapel and will feature Llanelli’s Samuel Wyn-Morris and the popular Llanelli-based Phil Harmonics ladies choir.

Meibion Elli will be under the baton of musical director Eifion Thomas, with Aled Maddock as the accompanist. The Phil Harmonics will be under leader Sara Richards and musical director Phil Thomas.

Tickets are £15 and can be purchased at Llanelly House with a percentage donation going to the Georgian tourist attraction for each sale.

Tickets can also be obtained through Davies Craddock Estate in Murray Street, Llanelli, with a percentage of their sales going towards the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice in Llanelli.

Tickets can also be purchased at Llanelli Docks Post Office and from choir chairman Mr Thomas on 01554 820644 or 07985136672.