Christmas Concert Raises Vital Cash For Wessex Cancer Support

A Christmas concert at Newport Minster raised over £6,000 for Wessex Cancer Support on Saturday.

More than 200 people attended Music at the Minster, featuring an array of musical talent from across the Island.

“It was such a wonderful evening and we are so grateful to everyone who was involved,” said Laura Haytack, Regional Fundraising Manager.

“Newport Minster was the perfect setting for the concert - it felt very festive and to see so many people there made it such a special occasion.

“On behalf of everyone at Wessex Cancer Support, I’d like to say a special thank you to Snows Isle of Wight for sponsoring the event, to Widget for all the sound and lighting and to the team at The Wheatsheaf Hotel for hosting the VIP reception.

“Everyone at Newport Minster were fantastic too and the night would not have been such a success without the help we had from everyone, so thank you.”

The evening began with a procession outside the church by the Isle of Wight Highland Pipes and Drums, which included welcoming the Island’s HM Lord-Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, who was a special guest.  

The Melodic Choir and the Wight Harmony barbershop choir were among the groups to perform, with solo performances from singer RUBY, brass musician Glynis Marsh and harpist Bella Brown.

Jay Eatwell, star of Channel 4’s The Piano, and students from the performing arts group Theatretrain also took to the stage.

Clients from Wessex Cancer Support who have benefited from the charity’s services shared their personal stories and the Rev Steve Sutcliffe was among those to give a reading.

Wessex Cancer Support relies entirely on donations to support thousands of people every year, including Islanders who access services at its Newport centre, and those who rely on the charity’s Daisy Bus service for treatment on the mainland.

• The charity also recently received a £3,867 cheque from the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management. The funds were raised with the consent of bereaved families from the recycling of metals from cremation.