Romany Wood Hits the Right Note for Hospice
February 28, 2011
Hundreds of children from schools across Birmingham hit the right note for the city’s only independent adult hospice when they raised more than £5,300 at a special concert at the city’s Town Hall.
Romany Wood was performed by 250 children split over two concerts in aid of Birmingham St Mary’s on Sunday (Feb 13), with Birmingham Chamber Orchestra accompanying and the BBC’s Nick Owen narrating the enchanting love story between wood mice Trollon and Esmeralda.
Organisers estimate that more than 500 people, including Birmingham’s Lord Mayor Councillor Len Gregory and Lady Mayoress Gillian Gregory, watched the concerts which will fund care for families coping with life-limiting illness across Birmingham and Sandwell.
Hospice Head of Fundraising and Marketing Caroline Taylor said the shows had gone extremely well.
“Both groups of children gave polished performances, really giving it their all. I think we were all extremely moved by the combination of stunning orchestral music and children’s singing.
“I would like to thank all who took part to make the concerts happen, as together they have raised a wonderful amount of money for the hospice. It will be used directly to help people with serious illness and their families,” she said.
Caroline added that plans were underway to stage Romany Wood again in aid of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice.
Participating schools were: Bournville Junior School; Parkhill Primary School; St Andrew’s Primary School; St Gregory’s RC Primary School; St John Fisher School; St Michael’s C of E Primary School; The Priory School; Water Mill School; West House School; Woodgate Primary School.
Newman University College also supported the concerts by providing a venue for rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the event.
Romany Wood was composed by David Gaukroger with the words written by David Carr, who were both at the performance. The pair created the work as way to introduce children to the delights of classical music.
Based on the children’s picture book by the same name, Romany Wood concerts have raised thousands of pounds for good causes since the first performance in 2001.
Since its launch in 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has cared for tens of thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, motor neurone disease and MS.
With around 52 percent of the hospice’s budget reliant on public goodwill, community fundraising is crucial to ensuring its highly specialised services can continue to be offered to the people of Birmingham and Sandwell.
In addition to a 25-bed inpatient unit, Birmingham St Mary’s boasts a 20-place day hospice and provides community care to people who wish to stay in their own homes.
The hospice also supports relatives with bereavement preparation, physiotherapy tuition and counselling in addition to many other services.
Annual running costs stand at £6.3 million, with around £1 million being raised in the hospice’s shops and £2.7 million via fundraising. The remainder comes from the NHS.
Birmingham St Mary’s nurses, often referred to by patients and relatives as ‘angels’, are renowned for going that extra mile to ensure people with terminal illnesses enjoy the best possible quality of life.
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