Helston was in fine voice when scores of people crowded into the town’s Methodist church for the annual rotary carol concert.

Hosted once again by Helston Rotary Club, it was a chance for people to enjoy an evening of festive songs while raising money for charity, with the result being £1,300 taken on the night.

This year’s beneficiaries will be Nancealverne School in Penzance, which provides specialist education for young people aged from two to 19 years with severe and profound learning and physical difficulties, and the Curnow School at Illogan, which also provides specialist education.

They have two set projects they are fundraising towards: a piece of equipment that allows disabled youngsters to play games on screen using their eyes, and investment into a light and sound studio.

During the course of the concert the rotary club handed over a cheque for £1,000 to Rev Danny Reed, on behalf of Helston Methodist Chapel, to kickstart its fundraising towards improvements to the building.

These will include a revamp of the kitchen area in the downstairs Wesley Hall.

The church was packed for the event, which is always one of the most popular on the town’s Christmas calendar.

Conducted as usual by Joan Williams, with Rev Danny leading proceedings, this year’s guest artists were solo singer Christine Cumber and trumpeter Sean Sjoholm, who not only performed but played descant for some of the carols. Nigel Dower was the organist for the night. 

Falmouth Packet:

Rotary club president Benny Vleminckx said that despite the poor weather and three other events taking place the same night, he believed they had still raised a “substantial amount” of money for the charities.

He thanked Rev Danny for the use of the chapel, describing it as “a magnificent building,” the “brilliant” organist Nigel Dower and conductor Joan Williams who he called “awe inspiring.”

Mr Vleminckx also thanked members of Helston Rotary Club who organised a pre dinner on the evening and “helped make the evening such a big success.”