Choir’s poignant performance after London Bridge attack
A WELSH choir sang their hearts out at the site of the London Bridge terror attack to show their solidarity with the city.
They belted out popular songs ranging from Bread of Heaven and Cwm Rhondda to Maybe It’s Because I’m a Londoner and thrilled passers-by in their bid to show a united front for the city and those affected by last weekend’s atrocities.
The choir, made up of people from all over Wales now living in the city, felt compelled to do something after some of its members were almost caught up in the attack but for a lastminute change of plan.
Musical director Mike Williams, who is from Port Talbot, said: “We got a great reaction from the people in the pub opposite – they were all singing along.
“It was quite an emotional experience, really – an obvious declaration of our support and solidarity.
“We cannot let anyone stop us from going out and enjoying our lives.”
It comes after the deadly attack killed seven and injured dozens at London Bridge and Borough Market on June 3.
Mike, 33, said around 50 sang at the event on Friday, adding: “Londoners of all ages were coming up to us and saying how lovely it was.
“It’s quite important that the community is doing things like this to drive business back up. Lots of businesses have lost trade because of the attacks, particularly those in Borough Market.
“Lots were shut all week and some are still closed this weekend. They are losing out so we were trying to attract as many people as possible back.”
Mike, who moved to London in 2009, described the group as a “proper community choir” who formed last year and rehearse at the Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel.
The group will also sing this year at the National Eisteddfod on Anglesey.
They frequently sing and drink at pubs like the Wheatsheaf in Stoney Street and Bunch of Grapes in Thomas Street, both of which have Welsh managers, and are located in the area where last weekend’s atrocities were carried out.
Mike explained how some of the choir’s members had a close call that evening.
He said: “We intended to go to the Bunch of Grapes to watch the Champions League final on Saturday night, which was exactly in the area where the attack happened.
“But we heard from the pub that they would not be showing the match so decided to stay in and watch at one of our member’s homes.
“If we’d have gone out we would have been right where it all happened. I guess it’s lucky they weren’t showing the game.”
Mike said that, despite hearing about the atrocities nearby, the group decided to go out for a drink.
He said: “After the game finished we heard police sirens and flashing lights and were getting text messages telling us about the terror attack.
“We wanted to go out for a drink so we walked in the opposite direction – but even there there was mayhem and chaos, and police told us to run, so we actually ended up back at the house to keep safe.”
Mike described it as a “very frightening experience”, adding: “We were all very shaken up by it, which is why we wanted to do something to help so much.”