Looking forward to hearing Lynne Dawson (From York Press)

Looking forward to hearing Lynne Dawson

11:42am Thursday 31st January 2013 in Letters By Reader's letter

SOME years ago, and some time after Princess Diana's funeral, I engaged in light conversation with a gentle woman seated in a supermarket café.

Meandering on our children – one of mine was seriously unwell – she kindly offered insights into some herbal remedies. She was a singer, and voices are sensitive to ordinary antibiotics, I think.

Ours was an everyday exchange, marked by this woman’s empathy. Quite apart from the benefits to my sick child, I came away feeling uplifted.

And who was this woman? It turned out she was the acclaimed opera singer Lynne Dawson, who sang so beautifully at Princess Diana's funeral.

I hope to see her again soon. I am a volunteer with the charity Home-Start, York, which supports families in difficulty who have children under five. Lynne will be singing at our Home-Start, Minster Choirs Concert, on February 7, at 7.30pm.

She joins choirs from many local independent schools, who are singing to support a most effective charity. Home-Start tries to raise the spirits and confidence of parents, to facilitate the whole family’s wellbeing.

It’s a varied, colourful programme and tickets are available at 08449390015.

Jayne Venables, Fylingdale Avenue, Clifton, York.