Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi headteacher Rachael Thomas read the first lesson at a special service in St Davids Cathedral as past and present choristers gathered to celebrate a tradition that began in dramatic circumstances in 1966

ST DAVIDS CATHEDRAL celebrated sixty years of girl choristers on Sunday (Apr 19) with a special choral evensong honouring the schoolgirls who first stepped in when the choir faced a crisis.

The service marked six decades since girls from Ysgol Dewi Sant, now Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, were called on to help save a BBC Radio 3 broadcast after a shortage of boy choristers left the cathedral choir in difficulty.

In a proud moment for the school, headteacher Rachael Thomas was invited to read the first lesson during the anniversary service, which brought together past and present choristers in the cathedral where the tradition began.

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi said afterwards that it had been a proud evening for the school, recognising the bond between the cathedral choir and the school dating back to the spring of 1966.

Material produced for the service explains how Peter Boorman, who had arrived at St Davids Cathedral in late 1953 with a strong musical reputation, had been struggling to recruit enough boy choristers in the years leading up to the landmark change.

The problem came to a head ahead of a BBC Radio 3 broadcast of choral evensong on Wednesday, April 20, 1966. At the time, measles had swept through primary schools in St Davids and several boy choristers were unable to sing. By the day of the broadcast, no boys were present at rehearsal, leaving the choir in serious difficulty.

Fearing that there would be no treble line ready, Boorman turned to the girls’ choir of Ysgol Dewi Sant, led by music teacher Rosalyn Charles. With the agreement of Dean Edward Jenkins, the Chapter and headmaster David James, the girls were excused from lessons and brought in to perform.

The schoolgirls rehearsed the required music at speed and, despite the unfamiliar demands of psalm singing, the emergency plan proved a success.

A handwritten note in the Chapter Service Book for that day recorded the moment in stark terms: “boys did not arrive – used 6 girls from Ysgol Dewi Sant.”

What began as a one-off solution quickly became something much bigger.

According to the historical account shared at the service, Dean Jenkins initially agreed to allow the girls to sing with the choir only as an isolated occasion. However, after hearing the quality of their singing, a chapter meeting held on Monday, July 25, 1966 decided that the girls should become full choristers.

The minutes of that meeting recorded: “approval to girls in choir – separate vestry – clothing left to Dean.”

That decision laid the foundation for a tradition which has continued ever since, with generations of girls singing in the cathedral choir over the past sixty years.

Sunday’s celebration recognised not only that original moment of necessity, but the lasting musical contribution made by the school and by the many choristers who followed.

The service booklet described the anniversary as a celebration of “the generations of girl choristers both past and present” and said the cathedral’s choral foundation continues to ensure that “the joy of singing can be experienced by choristers to come.”

The first lesson, read by Mrs Thomas, included the words from Haggai: “Take courage… work, for I am with you, says the Lord” – a fitting theme for an occasion rooted in courage, quick thinking and musical dedication.

For Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, the anniversary was a reminder of a remarkable chapter in the school’s history – and of the day six girls helped change cathedral music in St Davids for good.

Proud celebration: Past and present choristers gathered at St Davids Cathedral on Sunday to mark sixty years of girl choristers in the cathedral choir (Pic: supplied).

Performer to appear at St Davids Cathedral Festival after impressing judges with a programme of Squire, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saëns

CELLIST Seren Barrett has been named Young Musician of Dyfed 2026 after winning the final at Rhosygilwen.

The talented young performer secured the title with what organisers described as a sumptuous programme featuring works by Squire, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saëns.

The announcement was made by St Davids Cathedral Festival at Rhosygilwen, which praised Seren’s winning performance and confirmed she will now appear at this year’s Cathedral Music Festival.

As part of her prize, Seren will give the winner’s recital on Tuesday (May 26) at 11:00am.

The recital will take place during the St Davids Cathedral Festival and is expected to give audiences another chance to hear the young musician following her success in the competition final.

The Young Musician of Dyfed title is regarded as an important platform for emerging talent in west Wales, showcasing some of the area’s most promising performers in front of festival audiences and supporters of classical music.

Tickets for Seren’s winner’s recital are available through the festival.

Award winner: Seren Barrett after being named Young Musician of Dyfed 2026 at Rhosygilwen (Pic: supplied).

Two houses lost and a third badly smoke-damaged as villagers rally to support those affected

THREE families have been forced from their homes after a major fire tore through a terrace in Letterston, destroying two properties and leaving a third badly affected by smoke.

The blaze broke out at around 4:00pm on Wednesday (Apr 15), prompting a major emergency response from fire crews across west Wales.

Appliances were sent from Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, St Davids, Narberth, Carmarthen and Tumble as firefighters worked for hours to bring the incident under control.

Residents nearby said they first noticed what looked like a dark haze outside before realising smoke was pouring from the row of houses. As the seriousness of the situation became clear, people in neighbouring homes were told to get out.

Witnesses described seeing flames race through the roof spaces of the terrace, while windy conditions made the fire harder to contain. There were also reports of loud bangs as the blaze spread close to overhead power lines.

Fire crews remained at the scene into the evening, supported by utility workers dealing with the electricity supply. Some nearby homes were left without power until late that night.

By the time the fire was out, two houses had been completely gutted. A third remained standing but was left uninhabitable because of heavy smoke contamination inside.

Among those affected was a young family with a three-month-old baby. Although their house was not destroyed structurally, smoke damage is understood to have ruined furniture, clothing and other possessions, including items for the child.

All three households have since moved in with relatives or friends while they deal with the aftermath.

Despite the scale of the incident, nobody was injured.

The fire has shocked the village, but local people have quickly stepped in to offer help, with fundraising appeals launched to support those who have lost their homes and belongings.

How to help

Fundraising appeals can be found at:

gofundme.com/f/help-young-family-return-home-after-smoke-damage

gofundme.com/f/friends-house-destroyed-by-fire-f24y5

gofundme.com/f/the-families-effected-by-the-fire