A Llanelli choir has been bringing the sound of home to Welsh troops stationed in Germany at a special festival.
Cor Meibion Llanelli was invited by 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (The Welsh Cavalry) to celebrate the yearly British cultural festival — Britfest — staged in Paderborn, Germany.
The city has been home to a British garrison since 1945 and has scores of Welsh soldiers living there among the regiment.
The two-day event exploded into action with a fireworks display followed by Beating of the Retreat in the gardens of Schloss Neuhaus on Friday night.
Over Saturday, Paderborn city centre was completely transformed to have a real British feel.
Troops were given the chance to tuck into typically British food and drink at the Best of British street festival along with entertainment from across the UK, including from the Llanelli-based choir.
Eifion Thomas, musical director for Cor Meibion Llanelli, said: “It has been a wonderful experience for the choir to entertain 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards and perform at the British Festival.
“Cor Meibion choristers always relish a challenge and a foreign tour. Performing at the Dom Cathedral in Paderborn was a huge honour for us also.”
The festival was brought to a close with a Military Musical Extravaganza at Paderborn Schutzenhof on Saturday.
The Paderborn Garrison Military Wives Choir also performed and The Band of the Heeresmusikkorps 1 from Hannover took to the stage to represent The German Army.
The finale of the event was a spectacular Laser Lights show.
Robert Mansel, from Skewen, who is the Regimental Sergeant Major for 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, said: “It has been a wonderful weekend for the regiment, seeing old friendships reaffirmed and new ones forged, it has been a particular honour to spend time with and host Cor Meibion Llanelli.”
The Welsh Cavalry will be going on tour to Afghanistan next year for the third and final time and when the regiment returns from Helmand Province they will be leaving Germany due to the restructuring of the British Army.
