Sixty+ voices for Africa

Budleigh Salterton's celebrated Male Voice Choir will be singing to raise funds for a Gambian village on 6 March. The Choir's logo on its website evokes the Victorian artist Sir John Millais' famous work 'The Boyhood of Raleigh' painted during his stay in Budleigh in 1870
The villages of Woodbury and Woodbury Salterton just a few miles north of Budleigh Salterton may be a little off the beaten track, but nobody could accuse them of being inward-looking. Not only does Woodbury have a French twin in Bretteville-sur-Odon, Normandy, but both Devon villages have strong links with communities in Africa and are heavily involved with fund-raising events for charity projects there.

Woodbury is planning 'A Gig for Africa' in its Village Hall on Friday 12 March, with great American and UK acoustic music, supporting a remote clinic in West Kenya where a local resident regularly works as a nurse. The event will additionally benefit the Jonah Home for Children & Hope House Refuge for Kids in Namibia, which is also supported by Woodbury residents. Details of these events are on the brilliant Woodbury website http://www.woodburydevon.co.uk/

But before then there is another event involving a Budleigh-based group. Woodbury Salterton is even smaller than Woodbury but it's got a big heart where the Gambian village of Dumbutu is concerned. For the past 20 years its Aid Link with the African community has been providing funds, materials and sponsorship to promote self-help projects in Dumbutu. Currently this involves sending woodwork and other tools, sewing machines and bicycles, helping extend the use of the multipurpose centre and health care projects. It's also sponsoring about 100 children through school, which costs around £20/£25 a child.

Seen here on a Gambian visit to Salterton in 1994 are Gambians Kawsa Demba, Essa Drammeh and Nyima Darbo, with residents John and Margaret Pickering, Dr Hugh and Mrs Powell, Liz Appleton and Christine Bricknell. Information courtesy of Roger Stokes.

On Saturday 6 March 2010 at Tower Street Methodist Church, Exmouth at 7.30pm Budleigh Salterton Male Voice Choir will be performing in a charity concert to raise funds for Dumbutu. The 60-strong group sings in 12 to 15 concerts a year, all for the benefit of local and national charities, often raising at least £10,000 in a single year. The Choir is rightly proud of the naturally warm and beautiful sound it produces, rating it as one of the best choirs in the West Country. It has recently appointed Stephen Connelly, long term member of the King's Singers, to lead it in some vocal coaching workshops. Tickets at £6 from Ann Hunt on 01395 232114 or Leo at 01395 268820 from choir members or at the door.

More information about the Budleigh Salterton Male Voice Choir is at http://www.budleighmvc.co.uk/

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