Meet the 2nd Tenors

Geoff Allan

I joined the choir at the end of November 1996 simply because I enjoyed singing. My first performance with the choir was in Newtown, but my favourite venue has to be the Royal Albert Hall.

My musical tastes are a blend of classical and pop. I am a retired HGV driver, and in my spare time I enjoy watching football.

To any prospective member, I would say that it’s a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding hobby.

An interesting fact about me… I have sung at the Royal Albert Hall three times.

Steve Andrews

Howard Bourne (Concert Secretary)

I joined the choir in January 2012, having always enjoyed singing, but never having the the time to look at it seriously until I retired.

My very first concert with the choir was in a little theatre in Ulverston that has a statue of Laurel and Hardy outside it.

My favourite venue to perform is the wonderfully spacious St. Ambrose Church in Speke where we generally have an annual concert in February with the Merseywave choir.

My favourite performance so far was our victory at the Cornwall International Male Voice Festival in 2017 where we took the county by storm.

I am a retired schoolmaster and have appeared on four television quiz shows and also appeared in the ring with Muhammed Ali.

Gordon Bream

Alan Crofts

I am an Area Manager and Development Chef for Shire Services Schools and was asked to join the Wrexham Charity Choir with my brothers-in-law. I enjoyed every minute so when I was asked to join the Fron I jumped at the chance. My first appearance as a full member of the choir was at Eaton House in Chester but, like a lot of people, I think my favourite venue has to be the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

My favourite performances so far are the winning performances at the Cornwall International Male Voice Festival in 2017 and winning the Male Voice competition at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2018.

Joining the choir has given me an extra hobby which has developed into an obsession - in a good way - I can't get enough of the pleasure it gives to me and others when we perform and the camaraderie between the choristers is second to none - come and try it!

An interesting fact . . . I have sailed a 1000 miles down the Amazon down to Manous.

Jeremy Davies

I am an electrical engineer and joined the choir in 2008, purely because my son, Gareth, wanted to be in the Fron. Our first performance together was at Llay Royal British Legion.

The New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, is my favourite place for a concert but my favourite actual performance was at the Royal Albert Hall, London with Hayley Westenra.

Come and join the Fron – a fabulous singing family!

Rob Edwards (Asst Treasurer)

I am a retired Electrical Engineer with MANWEB / Scottish Power.

I joined the Fron in November 1995. I had been a long-time admirer of the choir and had previously sung in Llangollen Operatic Society and Llangollen Male Voice Choir but a change of circumstances meant that I finally had the time and opportunity to make the commitment to join the Fron.

My first performance was a joint concert for S4C with the Rhos Orpheus and Caernarfon at Birmingham Symphony Hall with Bryn Terfel and Rebecca Evans.

I think my favourite venue we have sung in is the Bridgwater Hall in Manchester but my favourite performance was our winning performance at the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival 2017.

I would say to anyone thinking of joining: If you enjoy singing in any style, come and give us a try – you’ll find yourself surrounded by 50-60 men from all sorts of backgrounds with a shared common love of singing and, before you know it, you’ll have 60 new great mates having a great laugh. And if you enjoy a beer or two, even better!

I don’t have any interesting facts, I’m a boring b*****d!

Gren Gough

I am a retired Chemical process Operator and joined the choir when it was founded in 1947 – at the age of 15 - to help the choir get to the required 60 members and compete in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. I sang in the first concert at the chapel where the choir was founded, in Froncysyllte.

My favourite venue to sing in is the Royal Albert Hall where we’ve sung on quite a few occasions, but my favourite performance was winning the male voice competition at Llangollen International Eisteddfod for the first time in 1977 under the baton of John Daniel.

Come and join – it’s a good pastime and I’m still going strong at 88!

Adrian Goodchild (Uniforms Officer)

I joined the choir in August 2017, having always wanted to be part of a choir after singing in school and church choirs in my youth.

My first performance with the Fron was at the Floral Hall in Southport, but my favourite venue has to be St Alkmund’s Church in Whitchurch — the acoustics there are fantastic and make every performance feel special.

I enjoy all genres of music, with a particular love for Jazz, Classical, and Pop. I spent 30 years as a police officer, working mainly in the Traffic Department and the Firearms Unit. In my spare time I enjoy walking, football, and sport in general.

To prospective members, I would say: join a choir — it’s great fun, the friendships are brilliant, and it’s genuinely good for your health.

Interesting fact… I’m a Leap Year baby, so I’ll probably always be the youngest member!

Richard Huxley

John Arthur Jones

I was persuaded to join the Fron in 2009 by Rob Edwards, having previously sung with both the Llangollen and Rhyl Operatic Societies. My first performance with the choir was in December 2009 at Holy Trinity Church in Oswestry, and my favourite venue to sing in is the New Vic in Stoke (Newcastle‑under‑Lyme). I also enjoy listening to 60s ballads.

I am a retired Steward from the local golf club, and one of my hobbies is campanology.

D. Vernon Jones

I joined the choir in March 2025, after my wife passed away in August 2024. Following a winter of long, quiet evenings on my own, I decided it was time to take up a social activity. Joining a choir was something I had always wanted to do, especially after growing up listening to my father practising for his own choir.

I had very little previous choir experience — just the usual school singing, chapel hymns, and the odd Urdd eisteddfod — so this was a completely new chapter for me.

My first performance with the Fron was a joint concert with Lleisiau Afon at Holy Trinity Church in Oswestry on 6th December 2025. As a new member, my favourite venue so far has been St Alkmund’s Church in Whitchurch on 16th May 2026. The acoustics of such a grand church, combined with our performance and the audience’s enjoyment, made it a truly memorable evening.

I enjoy a mixture of Country, Classical, and easy‑listening music. I spent 25 years working as a mechanical engineer for Ifor Williams Trailers, and I now work in farming and contracting. When I’m not working — if I can find the time — I enjoy going to the gym, dog walking, shooting, and caravanning.

To any prospective members, I would say: if you want a hobby that is highly social and gives you a real sense of wellbeing, then join a choir. You won’t regret it.

Dion Jones

I joined the choir in 2024 simply because I enjoy singing. Before that, I was a member of Rhos Male Voice Choir, and long before then I sang as a boy soprano. My first performance with the Fron was at the Stiwt Theatre in May 2025 as part of a three‑choir concert. My favourite venue is the New Vic Theatre, and I enjoy all types of music.

To any prospective members, I’d say this: we get through plenty of beer, and you’ll be joining a great social circle.

An interesting fact about me… I also do powerlifting.

Ray Jones (Librarian)

I joined the choir in August 2017. It had always been an ambition of mine to sing in a Welsh choir, and I was encouraged to take the plunge by our current Musical Director. My first performance was at Southport Floral Hall, and my favourite venue is St Alkmund’s Church in Whitchurch.

I enjoy all styles of music. Before retiring, I served as a Royal Navy diver and later worked as a diver with North Wales Police.

Outside the choir, I enjoy beekeeping and producing my own honey.

To prospective members, I would simply say: join and give it a go!

An interesting fact about me… I am the Senior Chief Librarian!

Richard Jones (Voice Rep)

I am a Motor industry Service Advisor and, like many others, joined the Fron in September 2016. I love to sing and had been thinking about joining a choir for a while when I had the good fortune of getting involved, with my two brothers and brother-in-law, with a great bunch of guys who got together to perform a one-off concert for prostate cancer, with the Wrexham Charity Choir. My first performance with as a full member of the Fron was at St Mary's Church, Bridgnorth.

We have sung in some fabulous venues, and The New Vic Theatre, Hanley tops the list, but my favourite performance has to be our win at the Llangollen International in 2018, closely followed by my first ever concert with the Charity Choir when performing with the Fron Choir in Wrexham.

I would say to anyone thinking of joining a choir: Don’t be afraid to try! It's a daunting prospect at first but the feel-good factor you get when you perform with a group of like-minded guys never fails to make the hair stand up on the back of the neck. And if you are lucky to win a major competition with these guys, you realise how much it means to all !!!.WOW.

An interesting fact . . . I’m a very keen motorcyclist and love to travel at home and abroad. I met my wife, Gillian, on one of these trips to La Rochelle in France.

Graham Kendall

Wyn Morris

I joined the Fron in 1991 after being invited by Paul Owens, having previously sung with the Brymbo Male Voice Choir. I also enjoy classical and folk music.

My first concert with the Fron was at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle‑under‑Lyme, but my favourite venue has to be the Royal Albert Hall — an unforgettable place to perform.

Now retired but I worked as a lithographer and in management, and my hobbies include vintage machinery, travel and farming.

To any prospective members, my advice is simple: just do it — join us.

I am proud to have been part of the Voices of the Valley journey.

Paul Owens

I joined the Fron in 1977 after being invited by John Daniel, and I was proud to follow in my father’s footsteps as he was also a member of the choir. Before joining, my only musical experience had been at school, and my first performance with the Fron was at NEWI in Wrexham.
My favourite venue has to be the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto — an unforgettable place to sing. I enjoy all types of music.
I recently retired, having had only two jobs throughout my entire working life. Outside the choir I enjoy football.
To anyone thinking of joining, my advice is simple: just do it — you’ll enjoy every moment.
An interesting fact… I once told Alfie Boe that I didn’t think he’d make it in the music business — back when he was the choir’s warm‑up artist on our first Voices of the Valley tour!

Steven Slade

Phil

Wilkinson

I retired January 2014 (age 58) as the Proprietor and MD – Qualified Cultural Sports Turf Consultant and Horticultural Agronomist.

I had always enjoyed singing since being in the School Choir and I joined the Fron in 2013 and graduated after four months in January 2014. My first performance was on 1^st April 2014 (not joking!) in the St. David’s Day Concert at Chirk Castle.

Being a member of ‘The Fron’ is extremely ADDICTIVE and is one reason we moved from our home county of Lincolnshire in 2012. I manufactured / hand-made thousands of ‘Victors Laurel Garlands’ for motor race meetings – many of which have been worn by extremely famous World Champions!

teve Winn (Chairman)

I joined the Fron choir in the middle of the mayhem that was their recording contract. That would have been in December 2007.

I always wanted to be in a male voice choir and saw them perform at St Mary's Church in Chirk and as it was a local choir I thought I would give them a try.

Because of the busyness of the recording contract, my probationary period was somewhat longer than usual and my first concert was our Christmas concert at Holy Trinity Church in Oswestry.

My favourite venue is the New Vic Theatre in Stoke but my favourite performance has to be winning at the Cornwall International Music Festival where we came off of the stage thrilled with our performance. The fact that we took three prizes that day was a bonus.

I served in the armed forces for 15 years before leaving and becoming a telecommunications engineer and eventually a telecommunications design consultant. I finished full time working life as a narrow boat engineer on the Llangollen canal.

An interesting fact . . . I have performed in front of every generation of Royals from the Queen mother all the way down with the exception of the latest generation. Not all singing performances, I hasten to add, as I also play the cornet.