A SWINDON musician is urging people to carry on giving to a children’s charity he supported through a performance with an orchestra made up entirely of musicians he recruited on the London Underground.

Shaun Buswell, from Rod-bourne, succeeded in his challenge of forming a troupe made up entirely of strangers with a show on Saturday at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

The gig – which was almost cancelled at the last minute before a turnaround in ticket sales – raised money for the Daytrippers charity, which supports children with life-limiting illnesses.

Shaun said: “Daytrippers is a wonderful charity which not only helps children but works with other organisations across a range of events, including a football tournament which I think is one of the largest of its kind in the country and by arranging trips to London Zoo.

“The charity is not just about providing help to children but to educate them as well.”

Shaun imposed a number of rules when recruiting the musicians, including not knowing them personally.

They also had to be carrying their instrument when he met them and the initial meeting must have taken place on the Tube network.

Some of the musicians were well established, with one trumpet player having recorded with Ray Charles.

He also recruited twins whom he approached independently, two months apart in the same location, Tower Hill Tube station.

The terms of the challenge stipulated that the 36-year-old had to form a band to perform at one of 12 top London venues by December 12. However after Daytrippers became involved the date was pushed back to Saturday night, when around 70 people played at the Empire Gina Akers, press officer for the event, said: “We don’t have a final figure from the event as yet but it did run at a profit which will go to Daytrippers. It’s an amazing result given that the event was in jeopardy just a week before.

“We had a huge turnaround in tickets and support from Swindon, for which we have to send out a huge message of thanks.”