Gary Brooker Ensemble

Press Release about Saturday 16 April 2005 (7.30 pm)

Cathedral gets ready to rock to help appeal

Surrey Chamber of Commerce and Guildford Cathedral join forces to stage Charity Concert for Tsunami Survivors

The Surrey Chamber of Commerce and Guildford Cathedral are working together to host a gala charity concert in aid of the tsunami survivors in Southeast Asia. The proceeds of the concert will be presented to Jubilee Action, the international human rights charity dedicated to protecting children at risk and combating poverty. After having worked with residents of the Andaman Islands for more than 20 years, Jubilee Action has helped to facilitate aid drops in the days and weeks following the tsunami disaster.

"However admirable the world's response to the tsunami, much of the funds raised to date will only help to address the short-term needs of these devastated areas,” according to Emma Le Beau, fundraising and development manager of Jubilee Action. "In contrast, our efforts will be directed at addressing long-term infrastructure needs of the region. Now that the immediate needs of the islands' residents are met, we need to focus on rebuilding infrastructure." Jubilee Action's ‘Tsunami Survivors Appeal’ will help build houses and supply fishing boats to tsunami survivors living on the badly affected islands that are located in the south-eastern portion of the Bay of Bengal.

The concert, scheduled for Saturday evening, 16th April, will be held at Guildford Cathedral, which offers an impression of dignity, beauty, lightness and space created by the building's pale Somerset sandstone pillars and white Italian marble floors. Featured guests will include Gary Brooker, the singer and keyboard player from rock band Procol Harum, best known for their 1967 hit Whiter Shade of Pale. Gary will be joined by a choir and an orchestra, providing a wonderful mixture of orchestral rock with a smattering of gospel. Refectory, the caterers at Guildford Cathedral, will be offering refreshments during the interval,  and also a pre-concert supper from 5pm.

The picture shows Louise Punter, Chief Executive of Surrey Chambers of Commerce (in red), Victor Stock, The Dean of Guildford, Maestro Brooker, and Paula Dash, Guildford Regional Manager for Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

Concert tickets for Saturday evening 16 April are available as follows:

• 'Beyond the Pale' is the only online booking office; fans who book through this route will be seated in a block near the front. If you want to be in that block, but don't want to pay online, drop us an e-mail
  
• The Electric Theatre ( 01483 444789) is another option; with tickets from this source, you will be seated on a first-come first-served basis along with the rest of the 1,000+ audience.
  
• To book for pre-concert supper from 5pm onwards at The Refectory call 01483 560471.