Virtual ambulance choir sing up for Pride Month
A VIRTUAL choir formed by Welsh Ambulance Service staff has released its fourth song since the Coronavirus pandemic hit.
This time the release is a version of the classic Cyndi Lauper song True Colours and is to mark Pride Month which runs throughout June for the LGBT+ community around the world.
The experience of putting the song together and the message behind it has left choir organiser and member, Mads Matthews-Williams feeling very happy with the group’s achievement.
Mads, a Medical Priority Dispatch System Auditor based in Carmarthen explained: “I chose this song as I thought it was a lovely message to reflect Pride Month.
“It shows that the Welsh Ambulance Service has a very inclusive culture and anybody can feel free to be themselves.
“In the video I have a Pride flag and it’s great that I don’t have to hide who I am because I’m in uniform.”
Performed and filmed by the eight participants during May, with a further one person adding a vocal track, Mads spent a week in June editing the track together.
Mads said: “I’m really proud of this one and it means a lot to me that people who don’t identify as LGBT+ wanted to join in and help us celebrate Pride Month.
“With the cancellation of the big Pride Cymru parade in Cardiff due to Coronavirus restrictions and most of the smaller events called-off too, it was good to get together and celebrate in this virtual way.”
Whilst singing the song, members of the choir also use British Sign Language to illustrate the words for hearing-impaired people to watch and enjoy.
Choir member Nathan Hughes, 32, a Welsh Ambulance Service Medical Priority Despatch System Manager based in Cwmbran said of his involvement: “The choir is a great project which I am always delighted to support.
“I have always loved signing, so it is great to lend my voice to such a worthwhile cause.
“Inclusiveness is close to my heart and I feel it is vitally important for all in the service to send a united message.
“I’m delighted to see such strong support for the choir and I hope that we can continue to go from strength to strength.”
Pride Cymru and its annual carnival in Cardiff on the August Bank Holiday weekend are already planning next year’s event and in a recent Facebook post said: “Looking to 2022, we’re hoping to see the return of Pride Cymru and promise you a bigger and better event than ever before - because we all deserve it.
“We thank all of our supporters, volunteers and partners for their continued support and unwavering commitment to Pride Cymru and the community it serves.”