This day was destined to be the most challenging for us, dedicated to learning more about the First World War in Flanders, and culminating in something so very special, the great privilege of singing during the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres. After a good breakfast we set off in the coach to our first port of call, Harry Patch's memorial stone near Langemark. Harry was dubbed the 'last fighting Tommy' and fought with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on the

A long time in the planning, and sadly now it is all over. Time to reflect on all the events, the joys, the emotions, the excellent fun we had together. As with any journey away with a large group, not everything goes totally to plan, but apart from an unfortunate 'bug' that affected a small number of the party (and at time of writing the toll is rising), and a couple of navigation 'faux pas' (not I hasten to add by our driver Rob), everything went pretty much as was intended

When Mello'D replied "Yes we would love to come down to join you in St Agnes on August 10th" , we knew we were in for an epic evening, and boy, nobody went home disappointed! Despite a dreadful weather forecast that was enough to stop the 'Boardmasters' in its tracks, and the music venue at Watergate which took three weeks to build, being dismantled without a note being played, our intrepid lasses from Torfaen set off for Cornwall to be with us. We all sang our hearts out to

This years 'Cornwall International Male Choral Festival' was a cracker! Choirs from as far distant as Australia, South Africa and Canada performed in concerts all across Cornwall alongside choirs from Russia, Finland, Croatia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and of course those of us somewhat nearer to home. Congratulations to Festival Director Gareth Churcher and his team for an extremely well managed festival of music, attracting great choirs from around the world, providing us

On Friday 1st March, we came out of hiding to compete in the 'Wadebridge Festival of Music and Speech'. We were in great company, Wadebridge MVC and Tintagel Orpheus MVC, who's performances we had the great pleasure of listening to after we had delivered our two song repertoire of 'Danny Boy' and 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'. A very tight competition it was too, and we listened intently to the Adjudicators summing up, during which he remarked upon all of the key points Marcus h

Few villages in Cornwall, possibly the Country, are blessed with the level of musicality that St Neot can muster. On the evening of Thursday 20th December, the Parish Church was again alive with the sound of music as Loveny were joined by the Caradon Youth Choir, Samantha Rowe, Merryn Rosie Cocking, Rosemary Turner and Maggie Holden, to present a superb evening of varied Christmas music to get us all in the festive mood. Our Annual Christmas concert in St Neot Church with all

It's been a busy couple of weeks in the lead up to our final Concert of the year in St Neot. On December 7th we were invited to sing Christmas Carols at the turning on of the lights in Sladesbridge, and spent the evening in the Slades House Inn, enjoying ourselves and bringing a little Christmas spirit to customers and staff. As always the lights are a credit to the local people who show determination to brighten up these months of early darkness for residents and those drivi

I wasn't going to write a piece about this event, but relented as it shouldn't go unmentioned, if only to show those potential new guys out there that we are about much more than concerts in churches. We were made very welcome at Roche Victory Hall for their annual Clays Beer Festival, where we sang for an hour without accompaniment, in a manner we often refer to as our 'Afterglow'. In short, we had a lot of fun! Though it felt just a little surreal, bathed in red light and o

We were kept very busy over the weekend of 16th to 18th August, as the title suggests.... on the South coast at Looe on Friday, and on the North coast at Holywell Bay on Sunday. The RNLI boathouse in West Looe had been cleared of its rescue equipment to enable rows of seats to be laid out..... and they were all needed. With the doors drawn wide open, and visitors standing not only in the back of the boathouse, but over on the opposite bank of the river too, we sang and enjoye

Doorstep Green in St Neot was the ideal setting for a social get together on Saturday 4th August, organised by our lovely Loveny Ladies. We even got away with mentioning the 'B' word well in advance, and our BBQ event was blessed with some scorching beautiful sunshine. We welcomed families and a number of guests, and alongside some delicious burgers and hot dogs, expertly prepared by head Chef Owain Burrows and Assistant Mike Gibbons, there were a feast of sumptuous cakes ava

On Saturday 21st we returned by invitation to the splendid St Meubred's Parish Church in Cardinham. As the hot summer continued, our jackets and ties were promptly removed following our photo shoot, courtesy of our MD's Father in law, Colin Browning. Our programme for the evening was 'home grown', in addition to the Choir Singing a varied repertoire of our songs to an appreciative audience, we were treated to solo performances from within our ranks. Colin Arthur, and his frie

In July 2006, Cornwall lost one of its greatest guitarists/singers/composers. Al Hodge was unique. He was as much at home playing the pubs and clubs he loved in Cornwall as he was on the world stage. Alstock is run as a charitable event, and it's aim is to remember Big Al Hodge, give the people of Bodmin a great day out and to raise funds for local charities. The organisation also donates £500 every year to the most deserving music pupil at Bodmin College through the Al Hodge

Singing outside in our beautiful country is always a risk, but our recent spell of hot settled weather certainly raised expectations for our July 1st visit to the bandstand in Padstow.....that is until we looked at the BBC weather app! The black 'cloud icons' with 'lightening symbols' beneath warned us of trouble ahead from lunchtime to 5.00 pm, neatly encompassing our planned arrival on the quay for a sing at 2.30 pm. But it wasn't to be, in bright sunshine and with an almos

Our Tour this year was unusual in that unlike other years, we remained in Cornwall, but at the extreme West of the county. We based our 'Land's End Peninsula Tour' on the well appointed and spectacularly positioned 'Lands End Hotel', where we had exclusive use over the nights of 28th and 29th April. Our first stop was a lunch break at Trevaskis Farm near Connor Downs, where our MD Marcus and his family had arrived ahead of us, together with other members who were driving sepa

On Friday 15th December, we turned our attention towards Liskeard where, as we had done the the previous week, we took our carol singing to those who have great difficulty coming to see us in concert. Starting off in Eventide Rest Home, where our founders wife Pam Pascoe is resident, we sang a variety of traditional and Cornish carols, and met requests from a small but appreciative audience. After gratefully received tea and cakes, our small but well formed 'a cappella' group

Perhaps it is just a reflection of the weather we have experienced in recent times, but yet again our audience had to brave a cold, wet and windy evening to join us, on this occasion in the Parish Church of St Neot for our annual Christmas Concert. We are pretty convinced that they will all have thought the effort was worthwhile though, because it was a really great evening! This was our first Christmas Concert with our MD Marcus Alleyne; he was determined to make it a differ

On Sunday 12th November we gave a 'Concert and Cornish' evening at Lanhydrock Hotel and Golf Club, to honour Andy Wood, a Bodmin man known to many of us as the larger than life 'Woodsy'. To a packed room, the Choir reprised much of our Gala Concert programme to an appreciative audience who had assembled to remember Andy and support the charity dearest to him, Mount Edgcumbe Hospice. Our very own Roger James also gave two recitations in the first part of the programme, and two

Our first concert for a while, and what a joy to share it with the Ladies of the 'Millpool Chorale'. Though the weather was poor, it did not deter a large audience joining us in the beautiful St Meubred's Church in Cardinham, for an evening of varied and entertaining music. Directed by our new MD Marcus Alleyne, Loveny began proceedings by singing our first set of four songs, 'With a voice of singing', The song of Cornwall (with Soloist Andrew Williams), 'Gwahoddiad', and 'Am

The opening concert for the St Neot Flower and Arts Festival took place in St Neot Parish Church on Thursday evening 24th August. The theme for the festival is 'The Rhythm of Life', and amidst magnificent floral displays and locally produced works of art, we sang a varied repertoire to a packed church, with both our MD Marcus Alleyne and Deputy MD Colin Arthur taking turns at the podium. All proceeds were in aid of St Neot Church and St Neot Chapel. Our Guest Soloist for the

The National Surf Life Saving Festival took place at Holywell Bay this year, and on Saturday 12th August Loveny MVC were invited to sing to the guests and competitors at the close of the days competions and after the prize giving ceremony for this prestigious event. It has to be said that this was one of the more 'unusual' venues for the Choir, singing in the open vastness of the beach is difficult and the sand certainly posed a few problems for us, but as always it was taken