Besides having a great deal of fun singing, the Hart Male Voice Choir make it their business to support charities and local communities with their fundraising efforts.

This they delivered in spades with their visit to St Mary’s in Liss, by turning out smartly dressed and entertaining a well-attended gathering, helping to raise funds for the building’s roof repairs.

The audience was treated to a cornucopia of musical goodies, with pieces sung either by the full four-part choir, as a quartet or solo. Direction was by the impressive Kevin Jacot and introductions were handled by baritone Ryland Lee, who gave a masterclass in amiable banter.

There were tender spirituals, full-throated songs from the Valleys, a march from Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe, and a chance for the audience to join in with Funiculì Funiculà, the Neapolitan anthem for 19th-century adrenalin junkies celebrating the funicular railway up Mount Vesuvius.

After a pleasant interval graced with complimentary glasses of red and white, the choir resumed with Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehaving (who joked he’d written this in jail, for defaulting on alimony), followed by a varied assortment of shanties, folk songs and well-known numbers from the shows.

The choir paid fulsome homage to Les Misérables with a medley of hits, including a baritone solo rendition of Last Confession.

Their thrilling Do You Hear the People Sing had the audience on the edge of their seats, as the back row unfurled and waved with great gusto a giant combined tricolour and Ukrainian flag.

Kevin tugged at the heartstrings with a violin solo, Ladies in Lavender, and special guest duo Trevor and Sally Hosken brought some light jazz to the party on guitar and violin, respectively.

The grand finale included an emphatic American Trilogy and Gonna Rise Up Singing, where the choir gained the backing not only of Judith Morgan on piano, but also of conductor Kevin pounding out the final notes on the church organ.

A great finish to an evening full of entertainment; the net proceeds raised £1,101.20.

A Hart MVC member who is also with St Mary’s congregation, made a point of saying how much the choir had enjoyed singing at St Mary’s, with its fine acoustics, friendly church family and welcoming audience. They would be happy to return anytime.

David Bradbury