Ealing Choral Society’s carol concert on Saturday 10 December at St Barnabas Church raised £4000 in aid of the Tom Clabburn Memorial Fund, a local charity, which raises funds and awareness of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), and organises free heart screenings in west London for young people aged 14-35.
In the presence of the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor John Gallagher (Ealing Choral Society’s president), the 70 strong choir conducted by Jonathan Williams sang traditional and less well known carols to an audience of 350 people. BBC Radio 4 Broadcaster Harriet Cass, Christopher Wickenden of Haven Funeral Services (sponsor of the concert programme), Tom’s sister Ellen Clabburn and Charlie Pearson (representing M&S, sponsors of the refreshments) were among those giving seasonal readings.
Tom’s father Paul Clabburn said “We very much appreciate the society making Tom’s Fund and CRY the beneficiary of their charity concert. It was brilliantly organised and ECS made what could have been a difficult occasion very easy for us. We were thrilled by the turn-out which has guaranteed that we will be able to sponsor more free heart screenings for young people in Ealing in 2012.”
The evening was rounded off with mince pies and wine after the concert.
“Clare Nazerali, the Ealing Choral Society Social Secretary, organised a hugely enjoyable social evening for members and their partners at The Grove at Ealing Green last Monday (Dec 12th). She managed to negotiate an agreement with the pub’s management that in return for 30 minutes carol singing we would receive £110 off our bill for the evening! Clare suggested that this should be donated to the Tom Clabburn Memorial Fund for CRY, which was unanimously agreed.
Choir members, always ready to perform, gathered as an impromptu group in the bar and sang a number of traditional carols in harmony and totally unaccompanied. Other customers seemed to enjoy the festive music, and a number of them stood up and joined in with us. It was a happy end to a lovely evening.”
Paul Clabburn
