LEDBURY and Strὄmstad twinning association held a joint tribute to Edith Piaf.

On Friday 5 April, The Ledbury Singers, led by Musical Director, Malcolm Hughes and a music group from Strὄmstad performed ‘Piaf with Friends’.

This very special evening followed days of intensive rehearsals as the two groups had never performed these pieces together before.

The Rugby Club set up in the style of a French Night Club created a special atmosphere and The Ledbury Singers, together with Nina and Bosse Markendahl, Tomas Carlsson (Toppe) and Jon Lindell (the latter singing with The Ledbury Singers), from Stromstad, delivered a memorable and powerful programme of music.

Nina Markendahl gave an emotive and soul-stirring performance as ‘Madame Piaf’, singing the renowned "La Vie en Rose", "Non, Je ne Regrette Rien" with ‘Padam Padam’ and other songs leaving the audience spell-bound and demanding an encore. The Ledbury Singers sang ‘Time After Time’, ‘Blue Moon’ and ‘I’m in the Mood for Love’. An evening not to be missed in the Ledbury calendar.

Other visitors from Strὄmstad were Jὄrgen Molin, Deputy Mayor, and his wife Marie. The Mayor of Ledbury, Councillor Helen I’Anson and her consort Julian I’Anson also attended together with Deputy Mayor, Councillor Steven Chowns, and his wife Mrs Gillian Chowns.

The Swedes’ also performed, this time a more ‘Rock and Roll’ style of music at the Talbot Hotel on the Saturday evening, to a large and enthusiastic audience.

Ledbury and Stromstad were twinned in April 2000, celebrating over 20 years of this special friendship in July 2022. The Association aims to raise awareness of the benefits of Twinning, especially for young people, through the sharing of sport, music and culture. ‘Little Strὄmstad, in the Talbot Hotel, holds memorabilia and photographs documenting the journey over the last 20 years plus.

For more information, please contact The Secretary: 07531 311 991 or jill_jupp@hotmail.co.uk’.