Choir’s cash boost for charities

CÔR Penrhyn from the slate quarrying village of Bethesda in the Ogwen Valley has had a notable year in many ways.

In an intensely busy schedule which saw the choir performing at major venues like Glastonbury, The London Palladium and the National Eisteddfod of Wales, it managed to raise money for five major charities including Motor Neurone Disease, St David’s Hospice, The Teenage Cancer Trust and The Police Commission charity.

The choir also donated its fee back to the charity ‘Love, Hope and Strength’ which was founded by Mike Peters of The Alarm, and his wife Jules.

Dafydd Jones Morris, who chaired the choir committee at the time of the concert was pleased with the support the performers received from the community in Bangor and surrounding areas.

Dafydd said: “I feel a glow of contentment that we have contributed in a practical way towards the treatment of young people with cancer,” and added: “We could be doing more as individuals to help those families living under the shadow of cancer, but seeing the numbers that turned out in Bangor Cathedral tonight restores one’s faith in human nature.”

The concert in support of Motor Neurone Disease and St David’s Hospice was also held at Bangor Cathedral in June. Motor Neurone Disease claimed the life of one of the choir members in 2019 and the charity was presented with a cheque for £1,000 during a practice session at Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda.

● Haydn Davies, the present chairman of Côr Penrhyn, hands over a cheque for £1,000 to Richard Shackleford, of The Motor Neurone Disease charity, and Gloria Williams, widow of choir member Alun Williams who passed away from the disease in 2018.