THE newly appointed president of Chepstow & District Rotary club was serenaded into office by a renowned opera singer.

Paul Durant welcomed an audience to a concert at Tintern’s Abbey Mill featuring celebrated Italian tenor Yuri Sabatini.

The weather was very hot in the day but the evening settled into a comfortable temperature as the sun disappeared behind the hills and the evening breeze arrived.

It was a beautiful setting by the River Wye and even before the performance it was clear that the 50-strong audience were in the mood for something very special.

With glasses filled and canapes enjoyed the performance by this famous lyric tenor began.

Acclaimed for his warm bel canto technique, Yuri has performed principal roles with several opera companies across the UK and in Europe.

He was awarded Best Male Singer in the Royal Opera House BP Summer Screens Competition, which saw him singing to more than 10,000 people in London’s Trafalgar Square.

Yuri was also a semi-finalist in the Mario Lanza singing competition.

Yuri enjoys a thriving career as a singing teacher in London alongside his busy performance schedule, but the audience were delighted he found time to perform for them in Tintern.

With arias from the operas of Puccini, Verdi and Rossini, interspersed with well know pieces from the musicals, Yuri delivered a widely varied programme that everyone enjoyed and they showed their appreciation through their applause.

Even the waiters all came out to enjoy the show.

In addition to their members, Rotary also invited members of the local community including Chepstow Mencap, Toucan for Children (Forest of Dean Charity), the Chepstow Male Voice Choir, members of the local walking group, members of a local singing group, local motor trader Alan Thompson, and Aileen Williams, proprietor of Calico fabrics who all enjoyed the evening.

Later in the evening a raffle raised some £300 for Rotary charities where the sponsors included Wyedean Packaging, Willtech Engineering, Calico Fabrics, Abbey Mill and the Bristol Clothing Company.

Incoming president Mr Durant said he wanted everyone to know that Rotary was certainly not a ‘stuffed shirt’ elitist club.

It comprises ordinary men and women who live in the locale and simply wish to enjoy being part of a sociable and interesting group who also wish to serve to whole community.

He encouraged all to visit their web site (Rotary Club of Chepstow - www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=634) or their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/www.chepstowrotary.co.uk) where they can see the wide variety of activities, both communal and social, that the members enjoy.

He hopes that the community will see Rotary as a force for good and enquire about membership.

Following the success of this particular event President Durant is now considering staging an event at Chepstow Castle for at least 250 people.