AFTER 53 years of dedicated service to Caldicot Male Voice Choir, Colin Jones was presented with a lifetime achievement award.

This award is given to choristers who have given outstanding service to the choir over many years as a tribute to their commitment and achievements.

Second tenor Mr Jones was presented with the award and named an honorary vice-president by chairman Mark Stocker and musical director Siân Hatton.

Due to ill-health he has been unable to attend practice and concerts recently.

He has been a loyal and devoted chorister who joined the choir soon after its formation in 1963 and has been a continuous member for 53 years.  

He has always stood out as one of the more colourful choir members, ready to give advice and encouragement.   

Sporting his white ’Dickensian’ side whiskers he is always prominent  in the front row of the second tenors on almost all of the choir photographs.  

He has been a past chairman and choir librarian for many years and is well remembered for opening up the choir hall to receive the brewery lorries among his many other roles.  

He is particularly proud of the part he played in the construction of Caldicot Choir Hall in 1996 and has produced  a step-by-step video recording of the progress. 

He has taken part in almost every tour undertaken by the choir with visits to the USA, Canada, The Netherlands and Austria as well as all over the UK, not to mention two cruises.  

He is also well remembered for conducting the choir’s famous ‘afterglows’ and for his trick of balancing pint pots of beer on his head while bobbing up and down, with never a drop spilled.

Mr Jones is an ex-steel worker and is a keen rugby supporter with a long tradition with  Caldicot Rugby Club.

Mr Stocker said: “Caldicot Male Voice Choir owes Colin a huge debt of gratitude for his long service, dedication and achievements and he richly deserves his award.”