Gwalia Singers
(Swansea)

Charity Number 1210553

Cantorion Gwalia
(Abertawe)

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2025

A Wedding and a Curry – 18^th January 2026.

Well what a journey! About 45 choristers left Swansea Airport by coach to sing at the wedding of Charlotte Ann Goodwin in Gellifawr Woodland Retreat, near Fishguard, with plenty of time for the journey. When we were about 12 minutes away from the venue, the coach driver took a wrong turning and we ended up in a very narrow lane with no way round a tight bend. After spending a lot of time looking at maps and reversing a long way we eventually arrived at the venue 45 minutes late.

Our singing was due to take place after the wedding ceremony and as we were late the guests had been sent off to the bar to await our arrival. Once we arrived we assembled and the guests returned, with drinks in hand, and in a very happy mood. We sung six numbers: ‘Calon Lan’, ‘You Are So Beautiful’, ‘O Gymru’, ‘Can't Take My Eyes Off You’ (with audience participation), ‘Gwahoddiad’, and ‘God Only Knows’ which were all rapturously applauded. For an encore we sang ‘There Is A Land’ and ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ and the guests had to sing one chorus on their own. We left the hall to more applause and many thanks from the Bride, Groom and guests.

The journey home was much less eventful. We stopped at the Carmarthen Quins RFC for a curry or lasagne and a few beers. After eating we adjourned to the bar for an enjoyable afterglow led by Nick. We eventually arrived back at the airport at 11pm having had a good day out and where our singing had saved the day from being a disaster.

Geoffrey Wheel – 30th June, 1951 – 26th December 2024.

It is with great sadness that we have to report that Geoffrey Wheel passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Boxing day, 2024. He was a great family man and a true gentleman. In 2011 he was very proud to become President of the Gwalia Singers, a post he held for 12 years. In all that time he was always very supportive and encouraging in everything we did.

As a younger man Geoff had played rugby union for Mumbles and Swansea and then became a Wales international player who attained 32 international caps. Later he was the organist in the Parish of St Thomas in Swansea where he also ran Geoff's Tuck Shop at the Boys Brigade every Wednesday. He was unfortunately stricken with Motor Neuron Disease and resigned as our president in 2023. It is particularly poignant that in November, shortly before his death, we held a concert in his honour to raise funds for MND and raised over £10,039 for this very worthwhile cause. On Friday, 26th January, 2025 we sang 'Benedictus' arranged by Robat Arwyn at his funeral in St. Thomas Church. Swansea.

He will be greatly missed by all his many friends in the choir and our sympathy goes to his wife, Christine, and to all his family.

New member. On Tuesday 7th Jan. David Owen passed his Voice Test and was welcomed into the choir, Well done David and welcome.

John Baily.

It is with very great sadness that that we have to report that John Baily, who sang Bass with us, passed away on 4th January 2024 having been ill for a year. Our sympathy goes to all his family.

Christmas 2024 - see more picture

St Hilary's Church Concert, Killay - 20th December

A day of mixed emotions for the choir started in the afternoon with the funeral of good friend and long serving member Lawrence Sutton. The choir filed into a packed Morriston crematorium in full uniform where they sang Benedictus as a tribute to Lawrence and his family. The song was very moving and poignant in the surroundings of the small Chapel.

There wasn’t a lot of time before the choir attended the last of their Christmas concerts at St Hilary’s Church, in Killay, where they took to the stage again in full uniform but with bright and colourful Christmas ties. The choir performed a variety of songs from their newly released CD along with Five foot two which proved to be a favourite with the audience, lighting up the Church with many smiles and foot tapping. The second half saw the choir perform their Christmas Carol favourites interspersed with audience participation and singing. During the choir breaks the audience were entertained by Nabeel Masih local singer and husband of the vicar of St Hilary’s.

After the interval framed souvenirs of our new CD were presented to Matt, our Musical Director, and Rhian, our accompanist in recognition of all their hard work. The evening was rounded off with the choir selling copies of their recently made CD titled ‘If we only have Love’ a great Christmas stocking filler at £8 each.

Vivian Hall Concert, Blackpill - 16th December.