RETIRED teacher Ednyfed Williams was only three when a male voice choir was formed in 1933 – 90 years later, they’re both still here and still singing.

Ednyfed joined Côr Meibion Trelawnyd in 1955 and on July 1, he will take his place in the bass section at their 90th Anniversary Concert, alongside tenor and Gio Compario star Wynne Evans at Rhyl’s Pavilion Theatre.

As well as celebrating the momentous milestone, the choir is aiming to support Tŷ Gobaith/Hope House with a raffle to raise money for the charity.

The charity has hospices in Conwy Valley and Morda, near Oswestry, where it provides a vital service for children, young people and their families across most of North Wales and into Shropshire.

The choir, which rehearses every Tuesday evening at the Memorial Hall in Trelawnyd, is also planning to launch its new CD on the night of the concert.

Two years ago the choir, whose vice presidents include Oscar-nominated actor Sir Jonathan Pryce, featured in a touching documentary, Men Who Sing, directed by Ednyfed’s son, Dylan.

He decided to make the award-winning film after Ednyfed told him he was selling the family home in Dyserth and arranging his own funeral.

It highlights the choir’s desperate campaign to recruit “brown-haired men” to join the massed ranks of grey and bald heads, described as “adorable Welsh geezers” in a review in The Guardian newspaper following its cinema release.

Last year the documentary went on to win a BAFTA Cymru award with Dylan being named as the best director in the factual category.

The recruitment drive worked and 93-year-old Ednyfed now sings alongside the choir’s youngest member, 15-year-old Owain Davies Williams, a pupil at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph.

The age gap of 78 years between Owain and Ednyfed is believed to be UK record.

Choir chairman Bryn Williams said: “The choir has a rich history and has travelled widely and made a number of CDs while our vice-chairman Sir Jonathan Pryce, who is from just up the road in Carmel, has written a foreword for the programme.

“We are moving with the times. Things have changed because there aren’t the coal mines and steelworks any longer and not even school assemblies where people used to sing so we have to change too.

“It’s about the brotherhood, not just about the singing. It’s about being together and looking after each other.

“We’re very much looking forward to performing with Wynne Evans because he’s more than just a singer, he’s an entertainer and he’s got a new TV show so maybe he’ll give us a plug.”

Musical Director Ann Atkinson, from Corwen, who has a distinguished career as a singer, conductor and tutor, said: “They’re just a lovely crowd of guys and very good to work with.

“Ednyfed Williams is still going strong at 93. He’s a very good bass and still loves it and is a great character. It’s great that he can still do it and still enjoy it.

“Different voices last longer than others and generally male voices last longer than female, they keep their shape but singing is very good from a health point of view.

“It’s very good for the breathing and for the soul.”

The Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir’s 90th Anniversary concert takes place at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl on July 1, at 7.30pm when they will be joined on stage by Wynne Evans and soprano Tesni Jones, from St Asaph. 

Tickets, priced at £25, are available from www.rhylpavilion.co.uk.