The Oswestry Orthopaedic Male Voice Choir has started its 50th Anniversary year with a concert in Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn as part of the St David’s Day celebrations.

On February 24 the choir performed in a joint concert with the Newtown Male Voice Choir. The choirs performed individually and jointly in an ambitious programme of songs in English and Welsh before a knowledgable and appreciative audience in a packed theatre.

The choir was formed in 1968 by staff members at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital in Gobowen. Close links with the hospital have been maintained ever since, and the choir has raised thousands of pounds for the hospital’s League of Friends over the years.

Although there are no current hospital staff on the choir’s books, one of the founding choristers is still an active singer.

Under its present musical director, Isobel Clare, the choir has a diverse and dynamic programme of music with which it entertains local audiences in support of many different charities.

With a current strength of 30 active members, the choir will be performing a series of concerts throughout this anniversary year, culminating in a joint concert with the Australian Welsh Male Choir on October 3 in St John the Baptist Church, Whittington.

Chairman Andy Young said: “We are very fortunate in our association with the Orthopaedic Hospital, which gives us facilities to practice and an important local identity.

"We look forward to continuing to provide entertainment for different audiences in this special year, and would be delighted to welcome new members to the choir. No auditions are required, just a desire to sing, a willingness to learn and plenty of enthusiasm.”

The choir meets at 7.30 every Thursday evening in Conference Room 1 at the Orthopaedic Hospital.