Romford YMCA staged two events on the above date commencing with a Christmas Concert featuring the Romford YMCA Operatics Society and the Romford Salvation Army Band.

As well as the usual carols sung by over 300 guests , there were special Christmas musical items and marches from the Salvation Army band , including a trombone solo and one of the band singing a song about God’s love at this Christmas time.
The Salvation Army leader Trevor Fisher conducted his last concert as he was handing over his baton after 5 years of loyal service with the band.

The Operatic Society entertained us with a selection of Christmas songs and also a medley of songs from their forthcoming musical presentation of South Pacific to be performed at the Queen’s Theatre in June / July next year
This event finished at 5.00 pm and by 7.00pm the hall had been transferred into a dance hall including a dance floor and a 17 piece big band and over 125 people in attendance.

Many favourite songs were played including a number of Glen Miller tunes which made his band a world wide success.
In the interval there were solo items from “Y’s” Company, (members of the Operatic society) and the audience had to guess from which musical the song had been taken from.
The whole day was a great success and a tribute to the hard work of a great number of staff in all departments.

The proceeds of the event, estimated to be well in excess of £1,000, goes towards the support of the International work carried out here at Romford YMCA.

Mr Ron Gale the chairman of the International Committee stated that over the past year that 30 international young people, of all ages, from 14 countries, had visited and worked at Romford YMCA and future visitors were already being planned.