Choir delights Caterham shoppers

JUNE 26: The Croydon choir delighted shoppers in Caterham on Saturday 23 June. They sang along to tracks from the choir’s latest CD, Brothers, Sing On!, together with a selection from earlier recordings.

CMVC and Welsh choir veteran Dennis Clifford sing together  (JWT)

In addition to buying CDs, shoppers at the Church Walk Shopping Centre donated generously to the bucket collection, whose proceeds were shared with Marie Curie Cancer Care, a charity with long Caterham connections.

The choir welcomed two special guests from Elizabeth Court, a local care home. Escorted by carers from the home, one was 91-year-old Jean Bannister, event organiser's Dave Bannister's mum. The other was 92-year-old Dennis Clifford, who had revealed a long-standing wish to sing with a male voice choir once more, as he had done many years ago in his home country of Wales.

The choir placed Dennis in the middle of the choir, so that he could participate in and feel the amazing sound only male choirs can produce. A tear in his eye showed how much he enjoyed the experience, and the choir were thrilled to have made his wish come true.

In addition to many appreciative comments from shoppers, Centre Manager Lyne Boyd was delighted with the performance, saying: "It was wonderful - you can come back any time".