ORGANISERS of York’s Community Carol Concert have handed over £5,000 to charities - as they prepare for the event’s diamond jubilee later this year.

The concert at York Barbican in December will see John Warburton conduct his final community carol after 38 previous appearances.

Last December’s concert at the Barbican has resulted in donations of £2,000 each to The Lord Mayor of York’s Christmas Cheer Fund and York Mind, The Press’ designated charity.

York Hospital Radio also received £500, with another £500 donated to committee member, Anne Platt’s, charity head shave, to be shared between York Against Cancer and St Leonard’s Hospice.

The Press has reported previously how Anne, marketing and events manager at the Mansion House, is tackling cancer head on to raise funds for the two city charities.

The 45-year-old, of Reighton Avenue in Clifton Without, faced losing her hair through chemotherapy, but she was determined to stay in control by instead going bald on her own terms and getting her hair shaved off.

Carol concert organising secretary, Graham Bradbury, said this year’s 60th anniversary concert would take place on Sunday December 17 and it would see chairman, John Warburton, stand down from his role as musical director and hand over his baton to Mike Pratt, who had been his assistant for the last three concerts.

Mr Warburton said it had been a ‘great honour, joy and delight’ to have led the concert over many years, and gave thanks for the privilege of doing so.

Mr Bradbury said: “John has given outstanding service not only to the Community Carol Concert but also to the whole music scene in our city.

“John has said he wants to go out with a bang and as a committee we intend to make sure he is not disappointed.”

*Tickets for this year’s concert will go on sale at the York Barbican Box Office on Monday July 3, with line-up nearing completion.