Hundres of people gathered to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones at a special charity carol concert in Harrogate last week.
Strong winds had threatened to cancel Yorkshire Cancer Research’s outdoor event, but in a tale worthy of the festive season, organisers managed to find an indoor venue just in time and the concert went ahead as planned.
The evening, which took place at The Sun Pavilion, Cornwall Road, instead of Valley Gardens, included carols led by St Aidan’s Church of England High School Girls’ Choir and Brass Group, along with pupils from Pannal Primary School.
Readings were also given by Charles Rowett, Chief Executive Officer at Yorkshire Cancer Research, Mark Charnock, best known for his role as Marlon Dingle in ITV’s Emmerdale, and The Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Councillor Michael Newby.
Those who attended were given the opportunity to light a lantern during the concert, which was sponsored by Lights4fun.
Andy Pierce, Events Manager for the charity, said:
We are thrilled with how the carol concert was received. We were blown away by how many people turned up to support the event despite the extreme weather and last minute venue change.
Christmas can be a very difficult time for those who have lost a loved one and we hope that our concert provided an opportunity for our supporters to not only remember but also celebrate the lives of their family and friends. Without the generosity of the staff at The Sun Pavilion, our event could not have gone ahead, and I would like to thank everyone who helped to make it possible.
For more information on Yorkshire Cancer Research, visit www.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk
