THE Bev Jones Music Company will celebrate The Queen's 90th birthday with A Royal Light Classical Concert tonight at the York Guildhall as part of the Birthday Celebrations Weekend of entertainment.
Hosted by Vale Radio presenter Dougie Weake, the 7.30pm event will feature a company of 24 harmony singers and a four-piece mini orchestra and will be announced officially by the Town Crier, Mr Terry Ford. He will proclaim the "arrival of The Queen's Party at the Guildhall and also the arrival of the Civic Party" in a specially written proclamation in St Helen's Square at 7.15pm.
Terry, one of the late Bev Jones's favourite bass singers, then will make a quick change into his dinner jacket, ready to sing in the concert and to perform many solo highlights throughout the evening, as will Chris Hagyard.
All the profits from The Queen's Concert will go to the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust: a choice of charity very close to Bev's heart. "He was a great believer in theatre for all, not just the elite, and that it should be affordable by everyone," says Lesley Jones, Bev's widow.
Tickets cost £12 on the door and will include a glass of bubbly and nibbles. "Numbers are limited so you could reserve by writing online to TheBevJonesMusicCompany on Facebook to leave your name and number," advises Lesley.
Bev Jones was one of only 20 boys from British cathedral cities chosen to sing in the choir at The Queen's Coronation at Westminster Abbey on June 2 1953 when head chorister at York Minster.
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