"He rang me saying, 'I'm sitting in my office in London with a recording contract for three albums with the biggest record company in the world'," remembers Dave, chairman and top tenor in the choir.

"We came to Manchester to start recording and had the Prague Symphony Orchestra there to play for us and John Cohen producing. It was out of this world."

The resulting record - Voices Of The Valley, released in 2006 - became the fastest-selling classical album of all time. It earned the choir the affectionate title of `oldest boy band' and was, in many ways, a well timed tonic to years of manufactured X Factor pop.

But its success, says Dave, was far more fundamental. "People have connected with it, with the songs and the voices. We aren't fancy dans, superstars or divas. We're everyday people who sing everyday songs. We've got no pretensions of being anything else."

Of course, the madness didn't end with one platinum album. Album two, Voices Of The Valley - Encore, went platinum as well. And, always game for anything in the name of charity, the choir were even talked into making a naughty calendar. Dave, who works as a prison guard, was 'Mr February'.

"I knew the prison service wouldn't let me do it in the prison, but in North Wales there's a prison museum," says Dave.

"Brian, who runs it, showed us on to the main wing and said, `I'll come back in a couple of hours', but no one had told him what sort of shoot it was! He came back and saw me, made some blustering noises and walked straight back out!

"In the prison where I work, I'm known as the celebrity screw. I've even got it on a T-shirt."

I can't wait to see that scene re-enacted in the movie! Oh yes, Hollywood beckons for the boys from the south west corner of Wrexham.

Shameless

"I've been thinking about who would play me, and it would have to be Anthony Hopkins, wouldn't it?" laughs Dave. "But I bet I get that Frank Gallagher from Shameless!"

They've also performed at prestigious ceremonies, opening the Classical Brits last year with a rousing version of the Welsh national anthem, accompanied by classical superstar Katherine Jenkins.

It was a highlight in the choir's career, says Dave, even though they narrowly missed out on the best album gong. "We came runner up to a boy from Liverpool called Paul McCartney," laughs Dave. "I think he'll go far, that boy!"

Perhaps album three will bring them the statuettes they deserve? Recording is due to start in May after they finish a UK tour - which stops off at the Bridgewater Hall on April 11.

"It's going to be an amazing CD," smiles Dave, proudly. "It's more music everybody can take to their hearts again, and there's one or two surprises planned. I can't give anything away, though, you'll have to wait."

Really - nothing? "Well, we're trying to coax Mr Tom Jones to come along on this one, but nothing's certain yet."

That the choir has a strong sense of pride about its work is unsurprising - even putting chart successes aside, Dave says pride was Fron choir's raison d'être.

"The choir started in 1947, for men returning from the war, to give them pride and purpose," Dave explains.

Llangollen

"At the Eisteddfod (the annual festival of Welsh culture in Llangollen), the men heard the most lovely choirs from the rest of the world, and it drove them on to achieve a finer sound."

Ably conducted by Lloyd Edwards, the choir - originally made up of men from five churches across Fron - went on to become the finest sounding choir of all and took the Eisteddfod crown.

Dave says he and his fellow choristers owe much to a long list of talented conductors. When Edwards retired in 1970, he was succeeded by John Daniel for 21 years, then Val Jones, and most recently Ann Atkinson. Generations have followed each other into the choir, too. Dave's father was a bottom bass who joined the choir in its early days 'until he couldn't sing any more', and his grandfather before him.

To this day, it remains a local choir that attracts singers from all age groups. The current personnel has an average age of around 65 - the oldest member is 86, but the youngest member is just 17.

And it remains absolutely dedicated to its hometown of Froncysyllte. If ever a demonstration were needed, Dave has the perfect story up his sleeve. "Not long after the first CD took off, we were offered a concert at the Albert Hall with Plácido Domingo," he recalls.

"But we already had a concert planned at the local hall. Reluctantly, we had to turn the Albert Hall down. We wanted to play for our friends."

Source: Manchester Evening News