Concert raises £4,500 for Afghanistan appeal (From York Press)

Concert raises £4,500 for Afghanistan appeal

8:44am Friday 10th February 2012 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

YORK’S annual community carol concert raised £2,000 for the City of York Afghanistan Commemorative Appeal – and another £2,500 for two other good causes – after returning to its traditional home.

The event at York Barbican in December ended up making twice as much as each of the three previous concerts, which were staged at the University of York’s Central Hall, said organiser Graham Bradbury.

Two thousand pounds has gone to to the Lord Mayor of York’s Christmas Cheer Fund, helping to fund a lunch for some of the city’s senior citizens next Christmas, and another £500 is going to York Hospital Radio.

The Afghanistan appeal aims to fund a new permanent artwork in York to commemorate the thousands of servicemen and women from the area who have been involved at some time in the conflict, including those based at barracks such as Imphal and others who were born and brought up in the city.

It will also include a memorial to those from the area who have died in the war, including Marine David Hart, Trooper Ashley Smith and Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton.

“We were delighted to have been able to return to the Barbican and raise double the amount at each of the three previous concerts,” said Mr Bradbury.

Concerts were regularly staged at the entertainment venue from its opening in 1991 until it shut several years ago.

The complex finally re-opened last year after a major refurbishment and more than 1,000 people attended December’s carol concert.

Mr Bradbury said a slot had already been booked back at the Barbican for this year’s concert on Sunday, December 16, when – under veteran musical director John Warburton — it will feature acts, including York Railway Institute Band, St Olave’s Church Choir, Appleton Roebuck Primary School Choir, St Barnabas Primary School choir, Steve Cassidy and York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir.