On September 21 a coachload of choristers from Côr Meibion Talgarth, together with a good number of supporters, travelled to Brittany for a five-day visit, writes Lloyd Jones.

A number of friends in Brittany who are associated with Brecon Gouesnou Twinning Association were of great help as two concerts were organised over the weekend.

After landing in Roscoff early on Friday the choir went straight to Morlaix, and spent a very interesting morning there, with the little train around the town proving very popular. The afternoon was spent exploring the city of Brest, where they were staying.

On Saturday morning, the coach took the choir to Saint-Renan, where there was a traditional street market and an opportunity to relax over a cup of coffee in the pretty, ancient square.

At the end of the afternoon they headed for Gouesnou for their first concert, in the beautiful cathedral.

A local Breton choir called “Harmonia” joined in the finale, and in the national anthems - “Hen Wlad fy Nhadau” and “Bro Gozh Zadou” are sung to the same tune. The church was full and the applause was enthusiastic.

The choir enjoyed the hospitality of the Bretons over a meal before the concert, and over a glass of wine in the Queffelec Centre after singing.

After spending Sunday morning enjoying some of the sights and St Michael’s Fair on the streets of Brest, it was time to head for Le Conquet for a concert in the afternoon. The church was full, and again the applause and welcome were enthusiastic. Le Conquet is twinned with Llandeilo, and the choir enjoyed the sunshine on ‘Llandeilo Square’ before singing, more wine and Breton cakes, before hurrying back to watch Wales crush Australia in the Rugby World Cup.

After a long day travelling home on Monday, the choir arrived in Brecon at 2am on Tuesday morning. Thankfully the sea was calm and smooth.

The choir said it was an unforgettable weekend for everyone who travelled. The Bretons are always so happy to see the Welsh, and their welcome this year was as warm as ever.

A spokesperson for Côr Meibion Talgarth said: “Our thanks go to those who organized everything - our hard working committee, and especially our concert secretary, Peter Rowson, and our friends at Le Conquet and Gouesnou.

“A special word about our driver, Neil Williams, who drove us safely everywhere, despite the many obstacles on the roads of Brest. It was a memorable trip.”