By George, chamber charity concert is an official first!

11:15pm Monday 23rd April 2007

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A PATRIOTIC crowd filled Swindon's council chamber for an historic concert last night.

Almost 120 people went to the chamber, at the civic offices, for the Advertiser-backed concert to celebrate St George's Day.

Kentwood Choir performed songs, all written by English composers, and the choir's musical director Sheila Harrod said: "We are a show choir, so we wanted to sing some of the best British show tunes.

"We started off 43 years ago with six girls in my front room, so it is amazing to come this far and sing this historic first ever concert in a council chamber."

The concert was the first time the chamber, normally used for council meetings, has been used for a public event and is also thought to be the first time any council chamber in the country has been used for a concert.

Swindon mayor Mike Bawden, who organised the evening, said: "One of the things I said I wanted to do was hold a concert for St George's Day.

"St George is very important for us and I don't think we do enough to celebrate our patron saint, unlike our fellow countrymen, in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

"When I spoke to Sheila about the concert she said she had always wanted to sing in this council chamber."

The choir performed for almost two hours, singing everything from Elton John hits to folk classics and from the Beatles to Gospel.

They opened the show with a medley of songs from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph.

The audience even joined in on the wartime classics, with a packed chamber and public gallery singing along and waving St George's cross flags.

All of the proceeds from the evening's entertainment went towards Prospect Hospice's Prospect@Home appeal.

The charity's chief executive, Vicki Morrey, said: "A few days ago I was speaking to the relative of a patient, who said Prospect was a gift to the community.

"She was right. Prospect is a gift.

"Tonight we are sharing another wonderful gift, music.

"Sheila's vibrancy, energy and commitment really shine through.

"I think it is fantastic that they have shared that gift with us all tonight."

There were concerns that the BNP would try to take over the evening, after the far right party tried to give the event its official seal of approval. But Mr Bawden hit back at comments on the party's website, saying the charity event should not be politicised.