Postbag

The Editor welcomes letters for this section. Pictures are appreciated. Letters may be edited so that we can include as many as possible

- Alexandra Wilde

Pure Heart,
Pure Voices

Dear Simon,

Caldicot Male Voice Choir, based in south Monmouthshire, is arguably one of the larger and leading male voice choirs in Wales.

It has its beginnings in 1962, following the completion of the giant steelworks at Llanwern near Newport, Gwent. Providing housing for the steel workers led to a huge increase in the population of small communities like Caldicot, and it was soon realised there was no male voice choir in the area.

In 1963, the founding members of the choir – Roy Hogan, Len Waters and Josh Grindle – held an informal meeting at the Cross pub in Caldicot. They approached Ralph Hodges who became the choir’s first musical director, and then knocked on doors, persuading colleagues to join what became the Caldicot and District Male Voice Choir.