DURSLEY Male Voice Choir maintained its formidable reputation with a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas Concert on the 18 and 19 December when there was something to please everyone in its full and varied programme.

Of course, as it was a Christmas Concert , there was a fair spread of familiar carols with audience participation in Good King Wenceslas and O Come All Ye Faithful. A lovely traditional Russian carol entitled Christmas Candle was a welcome introduction to most people.

Humour was present in a new take on The Twelve Days Of Christmas, The Carol Singers and Down Among the Dead Men, to which conductor Barrie Cooper provided amusing background information

He also told us a lot about the more serious songs which he had arranged: The Glory of God from the Messiah and Let There Be Peace On Earth. And after The interval the solo, It’s Good Enough For Him sung by Stan Unwin was warmly received. On a lighter note we were treated to a selection from everybody’s favourite, Oliver.

Apart from all this, we were delighted to welcome soprano Gillian Wells for a return visit to Dursley. She has thrilled us in the past with her angelic voice, stunning looks and warm personality and she lived up to our expectations with a varied programme including among other songs Allelujah from Mozart’s motet, Exsultate Jubilate, Cole Porter’s very amusing The Physician and for the Christmas theme, Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire.

The finale was a moving rendition by the Choir together with Gillian of O Holy Night. What better start could there have been to the festive season, where the true message of Christmas really shone through.

Huge congratulations are due to everyone involved, particularly to Barrie Cooper for his creativity and inspiration. Dursley is indeed fortunate to have such a Choir in its midst.