Our first concert of 2019 with the usual suspects… Tim Crosten is just visible on the left of the picture.

Tim Crosten our accompanist and deputy MD conducted a couple of the choirs numbers.

The afterglow is always important, however, there were plates of hot food which always takes priority!

Hannah Fraser-Mackenzie sang two beautifully balanced sets, from Mozart to My Fair Lady.

The evening finished with great applause… the first concert of the year had been a great success. As a reward we headed off to The Ben Jonson for our first afterglow of 2019.

Our Deputy Marshall, Andy Jones, was promoted to ‘wet conductor’ and the singing began!

A view of the choir from the rear gallery of St Mary’s Church.

Chairman David Francis introduced the choir and music team.

Our soloist was brilliant Welsh baritone Gwion Thomas.

The concert ended as usual with Mae Hen

Only the best seats for Elin and Alex

The afterglow in the Mitre continued until closing time!

Thirst was slaked….

Rehearsal, Helen Swift conducting and Tim Croston playing.

The Church was packed for the concert.

Organist Andrew Patterson appears from the lofty organ loft.

Helen introduced the sets.

The final bow.

The afterglow is below!

Three second tenors.

…..and songs were sung!

A short rehearsal just to sort out slippery floors, phones and the accoustics.

Helen introduces the first set and….

Between sets we were entertained by local folk singer Andrea Yates

Thame snooker club provided a comfortable spot for a tuneful afterglow

A warm welcome from Chairman David. He also sings here as a part of one of Helen Swift’s other choirs, Thame Choral Society.
…. the concert begins.

Warm applause encouraged us to sing ‘If we only have love’ for the encore.

The ‘Saxons’ were even treated to Jerusalem and Swing Low!

Oxford Welsh conducted by MD Helen Swift with guest accompanist Alex Howgego.

It’s not a competition… both choirs did try their hardest to out sing the other. A draw was finally declared.

The two choirs both agreed that it had been a great concert and a very memorable afterglow

The octet The BlueBelles supported the choir for this concert and joined us in The Tandem for the afterglow

Alex and Helen both stayed for a while and encouraged the singing.

Our day began with a tour of Bath. Some people took the walking tour… others sampled the delights of Sally Lunn’s.

As it was the 60 anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing… Helen decided to teach us ‘Fly Me to the Moon’… with actions!

Then it was the turn of Oxford Welsh conducted by Helen Swift and accompanied by Tim Crosten

Tim played as normal until the end of verse 2…. it’s usual for him to improvise a little… the audience like it and so do Helen and the choir… Remember what happened 60 years earlier and the film ‘2001 a Space Odyessy’? Tim played ‘Also sprach Zarathustra‘ by Richard Strauss. It brought the house down!

The bus stopped here. It meant that everone saw Poultney Bridge and the Abbey before searching for cakes.

The Silver Ring began the concert conducted by MD Phil Draisey and with accompanist John Lowe.

The goat song went well. The correct colour goat was displayed!

I think Tim put everything into his playing… It was worth the effort, he really ‘caught’ Helen 🙂

(Click for Page 2)

A first outing and trial for our new keyboard… Tim and Helen seems to like it!

Helen introduces the first set and….

Smiles from Helen after this packed concert in a tiny Church

Our soloist tonight was the fabulous Rosalind Dobson who had delighted audiences in Goring . She didn’t disapoint!

Phil Gibbs was the ‘wet conductor’ in the afterglow

Rosalind joined in and recorded some of it.

The calm before the concert… will the hall fill up for our 2019 concert with guests, Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir?

Oxford MD Helen Swift announced the first set…

At the end of her set, she and accompanist Tim Croston took a well earned bow.

Sarah was accompanied by Peter Griffiths.

Chairman David Francis didn’t need to worry. There was a great audience.

… conducting a combined choir of 90.

Sarah Sharpe MD of Havefordwest then announced her set. Andrew Patterson the organist can be seen in the background.

The concert ended with the Welsh National Anthem played on the organ by Andrew and the piano byTim. Sarah conducted the combined choirs and audience.

‘Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwlad garwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.‘

A first appearance in the brand new Harwell Village Hall.

In uniform… with the Harwell Hare looking down at us.

Our guest soloist was Helen Pearce. Helen is well known in the area and sings with Steventon Choral Society.

We always begin with a rehearsal. It warms us up and lets Helen get used to the acoustics.

Tim Croston and Alex the Dragon had plenty of space in this wonderful new building.

Helen Swift in action!

The choir are ready and waiting in St Helen’s… where is Helen?

It’s a wonderful space to perform in.
Shame about the one dead lamp in the ring of lights.

The Youth Choir joined us for ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Mae Hen’.

Helen appears and the concert gets under way… it’s a special concert for the Mayor of Abingdon’s charities ‘The Abingdon Bridge’ and ‘Against Breast Cancer’

Also appearing with us were the Oxford County Youth Choir with their MD Jonathan Cox

Our St David’s Day Celebration in The University Church. This is a joint rehearsal with our guests, Rechoir and their MD Nathan Jones.

…Bob Edwards gives us a proper Welsh welcome.

The concert was a great opportunity to try out some of the pieces that we have been rehearsing for a massed choir event in the Albert Hall, later this year.

It was the first outing for our 90th Birthday Dragon. Her name is Elin (Which just happens to be Welsh for Helen)

The choir are ready to begin, but first…

Rechoir were formed from the Swansea University Choir in 2013. Some of our choristers are Swansea alumni. They had studied several years before the singers in Rechoir were born!

The large church was packed. Was it the singing or the Welsh
Cakes in the interval?

Many thanks to Rechoir… we will follow your progress with interest.

Chorister Andrew Pritchard-Keens introduced the choir. He just happens to be the vicar! Andrew joined the choir after we sang at another of his Churches in Stanton St John.

David John Evans sang the solo verse in Myfanwy.

The afterglow is always important. Phil Lewis was the ‘wet conductor’ for this song.

Wilma the puppy joined us for a short while. She seemed to like the music!

A good turnout by the choir for a special concert in the village where one of our choiristers lived. The concert was to raise money for Médecins sans Frontières, a charity very close to the heart of Lyn Davies.

The Ridings Quartet provided entertainment between choir sets.

Depite the snow outside, the choir and Lyn’s family and friends had a great afterglow.

John Earwicker the Finance Executive of Medic Assist International introduced the choir.

Tenor Paul Harrison sang Grow Old With Me and Caro Mio Ben

… Bob Edwards, also known as ‘Bob the Drums’…

We had a question and answer session with Pastor Leonard Gcabashe and Steve Travis, MAI Executive Director. Together they explained the some of the work that MAI does. To learn more about the charity:
click http://www.medicassistinternational.org/

Helen Swift conducted the choir as usual, ably assisted by ‘Elin’ the choir’s 90th anniversary dragon.

Followed by Andy Jones singing three Zulu songs – Sho Sholoza, Hamba Nathi, Siahamba. With a little help from…

Tim Croston and Helen Swift, played and sang and the Choir also joined in.

A great end to a fantastic evening in a packed village centre. The choir then ‘retired’ to the ‘Tandem’ and sang for another hour, or two!

Our choir relies on its supporters. Apparently they cannot see, hear or say anything derogatory about our boys… Phew!

Bob Edwards sang the solo verses in O Gymru and Myfanwy. He’s no stranger to the Church as he sings in its choir.

Elin our 90th Anniversary dragon kept an eye on the boys.

Another successful concert… we already have a booking for 2020

Helen Swift conducted the first set in this lovely Church. She last conducted here when we recorded our latest CD.

Our soloist Rosalind Dobson sang two wonderful sets.
Her superb singing was enhanced by her expression and involvement with the audience.

We are luck to have such a talented music team, Tim Croston is a brilliant pianist and also a dynamic conductor.

The smiles from the choir, music team and soloist say, ‘Well Done’.

Our choir relies on its supporters. Apparently they cannot see, hear or say anything derogatory about our boys… Phew!

Bob Edwards sang the solo verses in O Gymru and Myfanwy. He’s no stranger to the Church as he sings in its choir.

Elin our 90th Anniversary dragon kept an eye on the boys.

Another successful concert… we already have a booking for 2020

Helen Swift conducted the first set in this lovely Church. She last conducted here when we recorded our latest CD.

Our soloist Rosalind Dobson sang two wonderful sets.
Her superb singing was enhanced by her expression and involvement with the audience.

We are luck to have such a talented music team, Tim Croston is a brilliant pianist and also a dynamic conductor.

The smiles from the choir, music team and soloist say, ‘Well Done’.

Another busy day at the Albert Hall… an uncle of mine was involved in the placing of the accoustic baffles in the 1960’s.

This is what the audience saw… 300 choristers in the magnificent setting of the Rolyal Albert Hall.

Samantha will be joining us on October 27th for our massed Choir 90th Birthday Concert.

Alwyn Humphreys conducted the massed choirs with his usual vigour and flair.

One of the soloists was Samantha Oxborough. She first sang with us on St David’s Day 2017.

Helen Swift our MD was presented to the audience along with all of the other musical directors.

The concert featured songs from around the British Isles and started with a splendid piper.

Richard Jones and David Francis sang with Thame Choral Society. They fitted in well in their bright red jackets.

Roy Hanlon sang the solo in O Gymru.

The Combined Choirs singing a spirited ‘Men Of Harlech’

Helen Swift introduced both choirs in this joint concert. David Francis, who sings in both choirs, organised the concert with ‘Churches in Haddenham Together’

The ‘Oxford Welsh’ doing the Welsh part of the concert!

A lovely Myfanwy solo from David Evans.

Wonderful applause from an enthusiastic audience in a full church.

These are some pictures from the Music Festival. We were joined by Towcester Choral Society and Cropredy School Choir all under the baton of Helen Swift.

All 3 choirs sang during the concert. Here are Towcester and the Oxford Welsh.

Jonathan French was the accompanist for this event. NB the strange blurs are some of the childrens’ choir… we don’t have permission to use their photos.

Now its Oxford’s turn!

After the performance the Choirs relaxed at the Ceiledh and enjoyed the bar and refreshments.

Our joint concert with The Silver Ring Choir of Bath began with
piper Richard Jasper playing a fabulous Scottish set.

The Silver Ring provided the English content to our Round Britain Concert

After the concert both choirs had a fabulous afterglow with gifts exchanged and eating and singing late in to the night!
We look forward to a return to Bath in 2019.

It was a very hot day even inside the Church. Both choirs opted to dress less formally.

The combined choirs sang Irish songs and even tried ‘Counting the Goats’ in Welsh

I must apologise for the poor quality of the photographs.
If anybody has better ones, please send them to oxwelsh@gmail.com

Our 90th birthday adventure began at our rehearsal premises, St Francis CE Primary School in Cowley. All of the children turned out to say good bye. We featured on BBC South News.

The journey was organised by a small team of choristers, Andy Jones, Philip Gibbs, David Reid and Nigel Hill. Here is Nigel trying to line us up… it’s very fortunate that he has endless patience and broad shoulders when dealing with the lads of the Oxford Welsh 🙂

The children had all made flags with St Francis or a Welsh Dragon. We assembled and prepared to leave on our adventure…

…followed closely by Helen Swift.

We decided to collect money for the British Heart Foundation, in memory of one of our choristers David Wynn who was involved in the early stages of planning this adventure.

Our MD Helen Swift joined the riders and conducted ‘Men of Harlech’ just before we departed on our 120 mile journey.
Nigel Hill led the group as we left on our journey…
By lunchtime the Allegro group were about 30 minutes ahead of the Legatos.

Click here for the evening and Day 2

A return to Uffington, this time with Jonathan French on piano and Helen Swift conducting.

Talented singers Lara Williams and Isabelle Fisher-Michalakis joined Patrick Leavey in the organ loft for ‘Panis Angelicus’, before returning to ground level for 2 further pieces.

The solo slots were filled by talented ‘locals’. Here, Joe Langford (Violin), Patrick Leavey (Organ) explain their duet before taking their places in the organ loft.

Helen was ably assisted by Elin the Dragon. During the ‘Goat Song’ her children demonstrated their knowledge of Wen, Goch and Las.

A team of Welsh ladies from The South Wales Male Choir, Côr Meibion De Cymru, greeted the audience.

Every Town Hall concert begins with the National Anthem…

Elain Robins and Siân Davies were the music team for the first half of our birthday concert.

He was beautifully accompanied by Kim Lloyd Jones.

Some of the front of house team took a breather before the main crowds arrived. Our 90th Birthday Dragon ‘Elin’ supervised from her seat on the stage.

The audience of nearly 450 then sat as the concert began. Andrew Patterson assisted the Côr Meibion music team by playing organ during the first song, Rachie.

Welsh Association of Male Choirs, Prize Winner Rhydian Jenkins sang between sets in the first half.

During the interval both choirs joined for a group photo.

For the second half of the concert click here

Lord Kenneth Owen Morgan gave a short talk on ‘The role of Welsh soldiers during World War One’ after our first set.

Helen Swift and Tim Croston joined the choir to take a well earned bow at the end of the concert.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

As the concert was arranged by the ‘Forces’ Charity SSAFA we sang repertoire which was appropriate to the centenary of the ending of World War 1.

The concert ended with Brigadier Ian Talbot (Chairman SSAFA Oxfordshire) reading The Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph.
Marilyn Elliott played ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ with a one minute silence between the pieces.

“When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,

For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today”

Lord Kenneth Owen Morgan gave a short talk on ‘The role of Welsh soldiers during World War One’ after our first set.

Helen Swift and Tim Croston joined the choir to take a well earned bow at the end of the concert.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

As the concert was arranged by the ‘Forces’ Charity SSAFA we sang repertoire which was appropriate to the centenary of the ending of World War 1.

The concert ended with Brigadier Ian Talbot (Chairman SSAFA Oxfordshire) reading The Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph.
Marilyn Elliott played ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ with a one minute silence between the pieces.

“When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,

For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today”

Rehearsal before the audience arrives. Our accompanist today was Helen’s husband Jonathan French.

A packed house is introduced to the choir

With the house lights dimmed we looked quite strange on the stage… never mind, we sounded excellent… not my opinion, but that of the very appreciative audience!

This is what the audience don’t see… Helen working so hard to get the best sound out of the choir.

The small stage took a little time to get used to, I quickly realised that I had nowhere for my right foot…

Followed by a welcome from our new Chairman David Francis

Our soloist for the evening was Mezzo Soprano Rose Rowley. We are looking for a better picture, sorry Rose!

Finally a better picture of Rose Rowley, posing with the choir at the end of the concert.

Where is Helen?

Answer, on the other side of the camera, taking the photo!

Leiden Tour 1991

Australian tour

The key to Atlanta

‘Ground Zero’