The concert in full song
Over 400 people filled the Main Hall of St. Columba's College on the evening of Saturday 8 October for a concert given by the Cowbridge Welsh Male Voice Choir and helped to raise over £4,000 for Christian Relief Uganda (CRU), a charity which supports several projects in Uganda, including a 350 pupil primary school, and a school for 80 deaf children.
The CRU also organises and leads teams of dentists to run clinics in some of the poorest areas performing literally hundreds of important dental treatments and teaching dental hygiene to children and adults who have never seen a dentist before.
This was the fourth visit of the choir to St Albans in 6 years and they volunteer to give the concert, paying most of their own expenses. They were supported by local, internationally renowned soprano, Lina Saavedra, who also gave her services free!
The Mayor with Jim Tryon, (Local volunteer and concert organiser) and Rhona Marshall MBE, CRU founder and co-coordinator
The Mayor Cllr Aislinn Lee commented: “It was a wonderful and inspirational evening, filled with superb singing from the Cowbridge Welsh Male Voice Choir and the additional treat of hearing the amazing voice of Lina Saavedra. It is a true measure of the character of the members of the choir that they take time out every two years to perform for this wonderful charity, to benefit children they’ll never meet, in a country so far away that most, if not all of them, will never have visited. Meeting Rhona Marshall, CRU founder and co-coordinator, was a total inspiration - a really remarkable and dedicated lady, I truly felt humble in her presence.
Because the CRU is not a large charity, the overheads are low and all volunteer supporters pay their own expenses, including air fares, when travelling to Uganda on frequent visits. Therefore most of the money raised will be used directly to support the poor in Uganda.
For further information about the charity, please contact Jim Tryon on 01727 873690. Jim has visited Uganda 10 times since 2004. He would be pleased to come to your school, church, club, or women’s group, for example, to give an illustrated talk on Uganda at any time. Further information on the CRU is also available on the website: www.christianreliefuganda.org.
The Mayor with Jim Tryon, (Local volunteer and concert organiser) and Rhona Marshall MBE, CRU founder and co-coordinator.
Cllr Aislinn Lee, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of St Albans City & District.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544 E-mail: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the press:
Davina Mansell, Information and Communication Officer
Tel: 01727 819316. E-mail: davina.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council
www.stalbans.gov.uk
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