Welsh Voices in London: A Choir of Heritage and Surprise
London is home to the largest Welsh community outside Wales. From the drovers of the 18th century, dairy men of the 19th, teachers in the 20th, and artists and other professionals throughout, London was an important destination. It is estimated that the community exceeds 300,000.
Like other communities, the Welsh in London maintain their culture and traditions through language, arts, and sport, gathering at The London Welsh Centre (LWC) in Grays Inn Road, the London Welsh Rugby Club in Richmond, the many Welsh chapels and elsewhere.
One such group is the Gwalia Male Choir. Based at the LWC and in demand for corporate and social events, a popular request is to attend London weddings where one or both partners have Welsh roots. A frequent motive is to give guests who have travelled from Wales a warm Welsh welcome. Surprise is often an element of this . On one occasion, the bride and groom wanted to surprise their parents. It was a delight to see the guests’ reaction at seeing the choir and hearing their favourite songs.
Often the person surprised is the bride or groom! One bride wished to acknowledge her partner’s Welsh roots and love of singing. The choir, naturally obliged, surprising the emotional groom and the rest of the wedding party as they left the ceremony.
Finally, many guests, will express their delight to the happy couple at the contribution of the choir, many experiencing the sound for the first time.
The Gwalia meet on Wednesday evenings. www.gwaliachoir.org NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!
