IT was waves of snow, rather than waves on the sea, that provided the challenges when the Pembroke and District branch of the RNLI staged its St David’s Day concert at Pembroke on March 1.

Determined patrons, with members and friends of Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, braved the ever developing snowstorm to reach the warmth of Pembroke Town Hall.

The weather conditions curtailed attendance both from what had been a sell-out concert and of the choristers, with the choir mustering a hardy two dozen ‘crewmen’ to man the musical lifeboat.

The audience and choir were welcomed on behalf of the RNLI branch by Daphne Bush, and compere was the choir’s Phil Lloyd. Conductor Christine Lloyd chose several Welsh pieces in a reduced programme due to the worsening weather - including items which will be sung by the massed Welsh choirs at the Albert Hall in May.

An appropriate inclusion was ‘Home From The Sea’ in which the individual parts were taken by Dean Maiden, Matthew John and Phil Lloyd.

Usual soloist Alyson Griffiths was snowbound in Haverfordwest so Christine Lloyd and Jenny Griffiths - mother and daughter - entertained with a piano duet and Ron Rees chose the very fitting ‘My Little Welsh Home’ in his solo spot.

At the end of the concert Conductor Christine Lloyd had the great pleasure in presenting a certificate for over 30 years membership of the choir to one of its stalwart first tenors, Charles Hare, of Orange Gardens, Pembroke.

With the blizzard now in full force outside, very warming cawl and bread was provided by RNLI helpers before audience and choir sailed out into the winter wonderland. Even journeys very local proved difficult for everyone with at least one chorister, who lives north of the Haven, having the unexpected pleasure of a night in a Pembroke guest house, along with family members and friends from Liverpool. It was a ‘Night To Remember’ for everyone!