Budleigh Salterton took RMVC President Keith Lawrenson back to his choir stamping ground.

There’s no doubt it takes dedication and passion to sing and perform especially when a concert is 120 miles away in Budleigh Salterton, the coach from Romsey leaves just after lunch at 1.00pm, we take in a most enjoyable cream tea enroute at Otterton Mill, but nevertheless know it’s unlikely we that we won’t be back home in bed before 2.00 – 3.00am that same night.

Well, we ask, is it and was it worth it? Why not read on….

For President Keith it was a kind of homecoming and for those singing in RMVC in 2005 it brought back many happy memories. As Keith explained to the audience at the start of the concert, his love of male voice singing started in Budleigh, so when he left Devon to settle in Hampshire his desire to continue singing was turned into the action needed to bring Romsey Male Voice Choir into being. Back in Budleigh he was particularly touched to greet in the audience Pamela Jones, now BSMVC’s Life President, who was the choir’s Musical Director when Keith was a member.

However, what made the evening, and the concert so special was the very warm welcome RMVC received from the Budleigh Choir and from the appreciative audience in St Peter’s Church. With adrenalin as always working its magic, both choirs rose wonderfully well to the occasion singing an engaging and diverse range of music from the emotional to the rousing to old favourites. RMVC members particularly loved Budleigh’s rendering of the Music of the Night from the Phantom of the Opera, while, in the second half of the programme, RMVC performed the mining song Working Man with Keith Lawrenson singing the solo.

The joint finale saw both Choirs raising voices together in American Trilogy, followed by Anthem from Chess, and lastly Morte Criste, (When I survey the Wondrous Cross) as an encore.

The Afterglow for the choirs at a local hostelry was a triumph of yet more singing and an excellent, very much appreciated buffet. We were only saddened that having to catch the coach home meant most of us couldn’t stay for quite as long as we would have wanted.

Our very grateful thanks to Budleigh Salterton for inviting us to join in concert with them. Particular thanks to BSMVC Musical Director Michael Graham and Accompanist Sandra Jepps, and our own MD Marion Maxey and Accompanist Richard Stannard. Finally, we hope the concert raised much needed funds for ‘Force’ the charity supported on the night.

Oh, and just to say, that long day away was most definitely worth it!