A CHARITY concert at Christchurch in Old Town has raised £450 for the Brighter Futures Radiotherapy Appeal.

The Rotary Club for the South West invited the Highworth Silver Band and Great Western Harmony Choir from GWH to perform for visitors at the church on Cricklade Street.

The choir and band performed together for a unique evening, playing a full variety of emotional and upbeat music.

Organiser Michael Morse, who was also married in the church forty years ago, told the Adver: “The choice and the music from the choir were good. I found it quite emotional. That piece, You Raise Me Up was tugging at the heart strings a bit.

The band also played music from Les Miserable and Beauty and the Beast.

“There was also a very nice soprano cornet solo on summer time,” added Michael.

“My first music teacher had to make the journey to Oxford and I have another teacher because he didn’t survive cancer. I know that it took it out of him.

"The trouble is you’ve got a minibus that picks up people from around Swindon before going up to Oxford. So if you imagine you're first on the bus or last dropped off, you’ve got a very long day.

“You don’t need that when you’re ill. Whether you’ve got cancer or not. Swindon’s a big enough place to warrant it.

"But the appeal is for for Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, and Highworth as well. We’re all affected.”

Penny Keen, a singer in the Great Western Choir, and former nurse, told the Adver: "It was lovely singing with the band because we've never done that before and obviously the acoustics in Christchurch are lovely. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us.

"We're quite an emotional choir but we sang a real variety, from Let There Be Peace on Earth, and When I'm sixty-four.

"I cannot wait for the Radiotherapy Appeal to reach its target, it's been so exciting raising money , and we're so close now. Everyone has been affected and everyone knows somebody who has had to make that journey. "

The Great Western Hospital Choir is made up of former and current employees of the hospital trust, including nurses, office staff and IT workers, who meet every Thursday in the GWR chapel to practice.