Abertillery choir marks century of success

Abertillery Ladies Orpheus Choir now provides camaraderie, closeness and support for women from their 30s to their 80s, but secretary Val Hatton says it is “totally amazing”

the group even got off the ground.

She said: “It is unbelievable, people don’t realise what life was like in 1911.

“Even if you were lucky enough to be the wife of a doctor or lawyer, a woman’s place was to run the house and there was no such thing as a life of your own.

“The women must have shown so much courage to tell their husband ‘I’m off to choir practice, you’re looking after the baby tonight’.”

It was after Abertillery Male Orpheus Choir was formed in 1908 that the women of the area decided they wanted a piece of the action.

The group had a small break during the First World War, when it was deemed inappropriate to be singing when local men were fighting.

But, even then they performed to raise funds for those on the front line.

There are now 32 choristers, who practise every Monday at Ebenezer Baptist Church, sing at around 12 concerts a year for a variety of charities and have just returned from a centenary tour of Eastbourne.

Chairwoman Marilyn Allen, 58, who has been involved since 2006, said: “We don’t expect any Katherine Jenkins’, but there is a great closeness and spirit.

“There are quite a few widows who have found comfort here.”

The youngest member is 35-year-old Jade Brooks, who sang in rock and soul bands before joining the choir for a new challenge.

She said: “There is no age difference. In Eastbourne, my room-mate was in her 70s, but we were both like young girls away from our parents for the first time.”

The longest-serving member, Kathleen Price, 81, has been involved for 40 years.

She said: “There’s still the same sense of camaraderie.

I’ve been to Germany, Ireland and north Wales with the choir and it’s always great when all the girls go away.”

For details, visit www.abertillery.net/ladiesorpheus/

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