MEMBERS of the City of Newport Male Voice Choir crowded into ward C4 West of the Royal Gwent to sing goodbye to a 91-year-old member who died the following week.

Around 35 members of the choir went into the ward on October 19 to sing to Danny Sims.

The chosen song was‘Danny Boy’, his favourite song, and the choir was accompanied by a portable keyboard.

Grandfather-of-four Mr Sims, from Malpas, sang with the choir for around 40 years as well as serving in the RAF and working at the Monsanto plant in Newport.

Mr Sim’s son Jim, 63, was at the hospital when the choir came in.

He said: “He burst into tears, he was very grateful. They had a piano and everything. All the people in the ward came to listen.

"They pulled the bed curtains around him and a nurse said, “There’s somebody to see you.” They opened the curtain and all the choir was there and started singing. It was a complete surprise.

“He didn’t stop talking afterwards, saying how nice it was and he didn’t realise he was so popular. He wanted to sing along with them but he couldn’t by then. It was a very nice gesture and the staff at the hospital were very kind to allow it.”

Mr Sims died on October 26 with his funeral being held on November 11.

A keen hockey and baseball player in his youth, he was a regular member of the City of Newport Male Voice Choir and had also sung with the Cape Welsh Choir in South Africa and been named an honorary life member.

Colin Shurmer, 72, of St Julians Road, Newport, said: “He was very well known in the area, very well liked and respected in many ways.

“His favourite song was Danny Boy. We sang that to him in the hospital and we also sang that when his coffin was coming into the church, which as you can probably imagine was quite emotional on both occasions. There were big lumps in throats.

“He always seemed to have a smile on his face, whatever troubles were going about. He was a proper old time gentleman.

“He will be sadly missed, there’s no doubt about it – not only for his singing and musical ability, but for his personality.”

Mr Sims was buried at Trinity Church Malpas, with his whole choir turning out for the funeral.