THE Dursley Male Voice Choir treated audiences on Friday and Saturday to an evening of pure entertainment with something to please everyone. There was a slight rearrangement of personnel as Rod Harris ably filled Terry Pascoe’s shoes as Master of Ceremonies. Barrie Cooper took over piano duties from Robert Burgess who was unwell, and Brian Parslow efficiently stepped up to Barrie’s role as conductor. Barrie still gave his informative and amusing introduction to each item.

The evening started with a lovely arrangement of Amazing Grace – so often heard on bagpipes. We were then treated to a varied programme with everything from Cossacks to The American Civil War, from Fiddler on the Roof to Sinatra , from Ragtime to Chopin, Cavatina to Amen and many more. At one point they even sang in French.

But the star of the evening was the aptly named Mandy Starr. She is a lady with a big voice and the personality to match it. She thrilled us with her versatility and delighted us with her witty repartee. She simply lit up the whole hall. We had serious numbers such as O My Beloved Father, The Old House and Mother of Mine alongside echoes of Mamma Cass, Edith Piaf, Katherine Jenkins and Cilla Black. At the start of her second session she began with the haunting Ar Hyd Y Nos in Welsh and then was joined by the choir to proceed in English.

For the finale the Choir sang its ever popular medley from Les Miserables and for the final song , Do You Hear The People Sing , they were joined by Mandy. This gave a truly inspiring end to a memorable evening.

The choir continues to attract new members and this ensures that they will carry on delighting audiences , not only locally, and at the same time raising money for many deserving causes.

Congratulations to all concerned . You are true ambassadors for Dursley and we look forward to many more such evenings.