TWO eminent musicians from the village of Rhosllannerchrugog have been honoured.

John Tudor Davies MBE and John Glyn Williams were each given engraved Welsh crystal ornaments as tokens of appreciation by the North Wales branch of the Welsh Male Voice Choir Association at its AGM in the Owain Glyndwr Hotel, Corwen.

The awards were for contributions to Welsh music. Both men have contributed to male choral singing across the country.

John Glyn Williams recently retired as the long-standing musical director and conductor of the Rhos Orpheus Male Choir while John Tudor Davies was a member, musical director and conductor of the Rhos Male Choir.

Songs and hymns arranged by these talented musicians are still being sung by male voice choirs all over the world.

Both men have known each other since childhood and their lives appear to have run in parallel. Having attended the same schools, football team and college, both returned to the Rhos area as teachers.

They then led a different male voice choir each in the same village while remaining firm friends.

WMVCA spokesman John Hughes Roberts said: 'The North Wales branch of the WMVCA is pleased to make these awards, not only as thanks but as recognition of their contribution to music and especially to male choral singing.

'Their talents have proved invaluable when staging recent mass male voice choir events at the Royal Albert Hall.

'John Glyn Williams has conducted such events with great skill many times and we were privileged to have a pianist of John Tudor Davies' skill to play the piano.

'We are grateful to them both and wish them all the best for the future.'