This year’s Concerts at GMC brought Gillingham Male Voice to us on March 17^th.  The men, resplendent in their canary yellow blazers with the Gillingham Borough Council coat of arms on the breast pocket treated us to an evening of varied songs and solos, including religious, patriotic and songs from stage and screen.  A beautiful performance of the “The Rose” was followed later in their programme by Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines and the Deadwood Stage from Annie Get Your Gun.

Two choir members who sang solos, were sporting beards, as they had recently auditioned for the new film of Les Miserable’s and couldn’t shave until they heard if they had been successful, another member of the choir sang a duet from Phantom of the Opera with his partner, we also had an amusing rendition of I’m Shy Mary Ellen I’m Shy, and finally the youngest choir member, by too many years to mention, nineteen and off to University in September, played a beautiful flute solo by Bach. The programme also included old favourites such as April Evening, This Old Man, Rhythm of Life and Bohemian Rhapsody, which was performed to perfection considering the choir only practise once a week, under the direction of Paul Robinson, and the audience were appreciative when they sang Nessum Dorma, Cwm Rhondda and Morte Christi.

I must pay a tribute to the choir’s musical director who has led the choir for over twenty years, travelling down from London for rehearsals, for his dedication and encouragement he gives to the choir members, and also to their talented accompanist Matt Whitworth.

All in all a marvellous evening was enjoyed by all.  Frank Watton has arranged a variety of concerts up to October and I do urge you to put them in your diary, the next one is on 12^th May when the Kent Police Brass Band will be performing, although I am not sure that Frank will be joining them in his canary yellow blazer, what a surprise church members had when he walked on to the stage as a member of Gillingham Male Voice Choir, had you known I am sure more of you would have made the effort to come!!

Diana Smith

Alf Philpott-Treasurer
Mike Giblin-Chairman
Colin Miles-Social Secretary
Pujan Dhar-Librarian
Peter Reeves-Publicity Officer
Alex Sime-Secretary
John Kanes-Committee Member
Paul Robinson-Musical Director

We wish the new committee all the best for the future.