Chepstow Male Voice Choir has started the Christmas season in Chepstow in their traditional manner.

The choir was present at the pre-Christmas sale at the Herbert Lewis store in Chepstow High Street to entertain the bargain-hunters with some festive music.  With space at a premium in the store, the choir took up position in the main window. As this area is normally reserved for furniture, the choir’s PRO, George Hiscocks, referred to the evening performance as the choir’s “Tonic So-fa” evening!

The choir’s annual Christmas concert will take place on Saturday 20th December, at Chepstow Leisure Centre. For this last major concert of the year, the choir will share the stage with The New Harmony Singers and an outstanding newcomer to the local music scene, Whitenotes.  This occasion will also be the ‘farewell’ concert of the choir’s popular and outstanding Musical Director, Brian Howard, who is retiring after six years as its musical leader.            The final undertaking for the year will be the choir’s much looked forward to and appreciated visit to all the care homes in the area on the Monday evening before Christmas, when they sing more festive music and take the sound of Christmas into the lives of the residents. All that will be left for the choir to do after that is to relax and enjoy the well-earned ‘afterglow’ session at Chepstow Athletic Club that same evening.

  SANTA’S ON HIS WAY: The elves of Chepstow and District Round Table will be escorting Santa Claus around Chepstow again this year.  Santa is looking forward to seeing all the children in the run up to Christmas, especially if they have been very good this year.  If, not there is still just enough time to make amends!  Santa’s timetable for this year is Wednesday, 10th December - Mathern; St. Lawrence Park; The Bayfields, Sunday, 14th December Bulwark area, Wednesday, 17th December - The Danes; St. Arvans, Sunday, 21st December - Piercefield Avenue; Tutshill; Sedbury; Beachley Barracks Exact locations for the visits will be indicated by special ‘Santa Stops Here!’ signs, that will pop up on the day of his visit.

Santa is grateful for all the help the Chepstow and District Round Table are providing in making sure he gets around Chepstow safely.