STEETON Male Voice Choir took their sound to the heartland of choral singing during a trip to Wales.

The group's annual tour saw a return to South Wales where the men sang at Port Talbot and Cwmbran.

Venues included a church in the shadow of the huge Port Talbot steelworks, a rugby club and a giant glasshouse in the National Botanical Gardens of Wales.

Publicity officer David Barraclough said the welcome return to South Wales reminded him of the phrase ‘coals to Newcastle’.

He said: “There is no doubt the Welsh are very passionate about singing and our first concert with Port Talbot Cymric was an emotional affair as Welsh passion met true Yorkshire grit!

“The venue, a church in the shadow of the huge Port Talbot Steel Works, seemed to add to the spirit of the evening.

“There were fine performances from both choirs and the evening culminated in a rousing finale of Morte Christi when the choristers of both choirs performed together.

“The Cymric showed they were true hosts entertaining us at the local rugby club rolling out tune after tune at the ritual afterglow.

“They sang us out of the building as we left to return to our hotel in Cwmbran you got the impression they would have sung all night.”

The following night Steeton Male Voice Choir sang with the New Harmony Singers mixed choir in Cwmbran.

David said: “Once again there were faultless performances from both choirs and our hosts showed us that the Welsh were born to sing.

“The afterglow saw both choirs entertain one another with tune after tune whilst tucking into wholesome Welsh fayre.”

On the Sunday the Steeton men returned to the National Botanical Gardens of Wales to entertain the visitors with two performances in the country’ as biggest greenhouse.

David added: “The steady flow of visitors showing their appreciation as they were serenaded through the glasshouse admiring the vast array of plants that were on display.

“The tour was very successful and the musical director Alan Clark informed us that it was possibly one of the best tours he had been associated with during his tenure at the helm of the choir.”

Alan Clark has been the choir’s musical director for more than 20 years.

• Steeton Male Voice Choir will perform at at St Luke’s Church, East Morton, on Saturday, June 18 at 7.30pm.

Visit malevoicechoirs.net to book tickets.