ONE of Oxford’s oldest choirs is hitting all the right notes this month, a year after the Oxford Mail helped find members a new home.

The Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir has been running since 1928, but last year nearly had to disband after their practice room at the Lord Nuffield Club in Cowley closed.

But a plea in the Oxford Mail soon brought in offers of help from across the city, and the choir found a new regular home at the Oxford Academy.

They were soon back in business and are practising for their annual charity gala on October 23 in aid of the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air aAmbulance.

Chairman Phil Lewis, 73, said: “The last year has been brilliant, we’ve had a few new members and the choir has done really well.

“We had a few offers from people who saw our plight in the Oxford Mail – six or seven places. We are very grateful because we might not still be together if it weren’t for the help.”

The choir was started 82 years ago by men who came from South Wales to find work at the Morris car factory. Mr Lewis has been chairman for two years and said the 40 members, many of whom were not Welsh, loved what they did.

The retired pharmacist explained: “Last year, the choir raised between £10,000 and £15,000, and we like to do more than 20 concerts every year.

“We do weddings, funerals, and have a few Christmas concerts lined up already.”

Mr Lewis said the security of having a permanent home meant the choir was going “from strength to strength”.

He said: “We are just old boys who enjoy singing.

“We are from a huge variety of backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a love of singing.

“It is nice because the partners all muck in too and come along to our socials.”

At the gala concert the choir will be joined by two choirs from South Wales, totalling 100 voices.

Mr Lewis said: “It’s a whole mixture of music that everyone can enjoy.”

He added the choir was always on the hunt for new members – for details visit oxfordwelshmvc.org.uk.

Tickets for the gala concert cost £15 from Blackwells bookshop or the Town Hall in Oxford, The Gift Centre, Bury St, Abingdon, The Music Stand, High St, Witney, or Perspective, High St, Woodstock