Sylvia’s Watershed moment

FUNDRAISER HANDS OVER £10,000 IN AID OF SALVATION ARMY APPEAL

A SALVATION Army fundraiser has handed over £10,000 after organising a series of concerts and events

Sylvia Evans, 86, a retired Songster, raised the cash in aid of the charity’s Watershed Appeal.

The last event was been held at Hillingdon Corps where it culminated in a cheque for £10,000 being presented to Major Isaac Siundu of the Salvation Army Southern Territory in Africa.

Silvia was inspired to get fundraising after hearing of the Army’s efforts in Africa where work is being done to install piped and clean running water for communities who still have to walk long distances to collect it. Silvia had been moved and disturbed by the stories she heard and felt that she had to do something personally to contribute to the Appeal.

The final event held on Saturday, October 14 was a concert presented by Andrew and Sue Blyth with a group of singers and instrumental- ists from various SA Corps and the Salvation Army’s Creative Arts Department.

Andrew Blyth, head of music editorial of the Salvation Army UK, compèred the programme and conducted the singing of the ensemble.

At the beginning he made it clear that it would be a relatively lighthearted evening.

There was significant laughter when it became known that he had attended Hillingdon Corps as a young child and it was hinted that he had a mischievous tendency and was not always a model of good behaviour!

The programme included the singing of On the Rock by the full ensemble and The Army Drum by the male voice quartet. There was a Cornet Trio,

The Happy Warriors was played by three members of the Music Editorial Department.

Sue Blythe’s versatility in her sequence of songs, some with a “big band” backing captivated everyone. The song, “Love Cannot Fail” from a Gowans & Larsson musical had a strong spiritual message that was clearly felt and appreciated by those attending.

It was something of a coup for Silvia Evans to get so many well-known guests to Hillingdon and her raising of £10,000 towards the SA Watershed Campaign is a great personal achievement.

The Salvation Army reports that there are still 663 million people going without clean water – 1 in every 10 people on the planet who still don’t have access to this basic, yet vital resource. Access to water is vital in the fight to end extreme poverty. It improves health, hygiene, education and productivity.

It increases crop yields, reduces infections and gives children more time to spend in school. In fact, for every £1 invested in water and sanitation in a community, £8 is returned in increased productivity.