‘LIKE being at the Royal Albert Hall’.
That is how Otley’s 2019 Poppy Appeal concert has been described. The event was held at a packed Prince Henry’s Grammar School on Saturday, October 12.
Those attending, including representatives from the Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas, were treated to a rousing performance by the Band of the Royal Air Force College.
The President of Skipton Royal British Legion, Barry Blood, also read The Exhortation and the Kohima Epitaph while a veteran who had served in Afghanistan gave a talk about the work of the Battle Back Centre, in Shropshire.
Irene Willis, 90, has been organising the concert for decades - helped increasingly by her daughter, Susan Bye. She said: “This year’s concert was a huge success and the music was wonderful, it was just like being at the Royal Albert Hall. The young veteran who came along also spoke very well about the Battle Back Centre and how important its work is.”
She thanked everyone who had helped including Derek Owram from Otley Lions, who transported the Chelsea Pensioners. Proceeds from the show will go to the Battle Back Centre.
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