Requiem amasses cash for Jane Scarth
A CANCER charity is better off to the tune of £5,000 after a choir of 260 volunteer singers gathered at Romsey Abbey on Saturday evening for a special performance of Brahms' Requiem .
The "Come and Sing" event organised by Clive Collier, John and Kathy Tilling and Romsey Choral Society attracted singers from and all over the south of England as well as Cornwall, South Wales, Shropshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Essex.
Proceeds from the event, sponsored by Penyards Country Properties, went to Jane Scarth House, Romsey's drop-in centre for anyone affected by cancer.
Music was provided by the City of Southampton Chamber Orchestra and Arthur Robson, the charismatic Director of Choral Studies at University College, Chichester, was the conductor.
Linda Stafford, from Timsbury, a member of Romsey Choral Society, made an outstanding debut as soprano soloist and will no doubt now be in great demand. Steve James, from Chandler's Ford, again brought depth and resonance to the solo bass sections as he did at a similar concert in 2000.
For the evening concert, Reverend Camilla Walton welcomed the 500 singers, orchestra and audience and John Burgess, the Jane Scarth House Appeal Chairman, explained the work of the charity and why the fund raising events such as this were so valued.
Among the audience were the Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Pat West, and her husband Peter, Romsey Town Mayor Councillor Mike Curtis and his wife Rita, Sandra Gidley MP and husband Bill, and Kate Wass, Chairman of Wessex Cancer Trust, and husband.
Cheryl Collier, Grace White and a team of volunteers from Jane Scarth House and the Rotary Club of Romsey Test had a long and tiring day to provide food and refreshments for the visitors and they alone raised almost £1,000 for the Charity.
Once again Music in Romsey provided the support without which events such as this could not take place.
Commenting at the end of an exhilarating day, the organiser, Clive Collier, said: "I am delighted that the event has been such a great success and this is entirely due to the enormous efforts of John and Kathy Tilling, members of Romsey Choral Society and a few other volunteers. Three years ago we raised over £5000 for the Hospital Appeal and are confident that our efforts this time will have generated the same sort of amount. Three years ago we said `never again' but who knows what might happen in 2006."