Our intrepid explorer and anthropologist Peter Gardiner and his team, searched for relics in the Dordogne last September with the determination of a modern day Howard Carter. He didn’t find mummies but instead the oldest daddy of them all; he found traces of one of the oldest choirs in Christendom. Here is his report.

“Touring southern France last September we visited the ancient town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, where in an exhibition of old photos, we discovered this picture of a male voice choir, probably taken a hundred years ago.

The caption read: - Les Bardes de Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
It was founded in 1863. The dress code was blue smock and grey trousers with a red sash and white cravat – some with berets it appears. They performed locally and nationally – such as the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867.
It is assumed that the gent with the luxuriant beard, carrying a cane and wearing an expensive choir jacket must be the MD.”

Perhaps Martin can be persuaded to suggest an exchange tour?

 

Peter Gardiner (T2)