Charity Concert

On the evening of Saturday 27th April Llantwit Major Rotary Club and UWC Atlantic College jointly hosted a gala concert by internationally acclaimed Italian pianist, Francesco Attesti.  The primary purpose of the event was to raise sufficient funds to purchase a new Shelterbox for the international charity of that name.  Completed boxes containing equipment to sustain a family made destitute by natural or man-made disasters are stored in readiness to be shipped to areas of need.  The assembled equipment can often be seen on news items from troubled areas.

Francesco Attesti, himself a Rotarian, kindly agreed to donate his services free of charge in support of the fund raising effort.  The result was a superb piano recital given in the Bradenstoke Hall of St Donat's Castle.  The large audience was rewarded by a selection of music from Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Rossini and Liszt and also enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine in the castle's elegant surrounding during the interval.  A group of Atlantic College students were on hand to assist members of the audience.  On show was an assembled Shelterbox with International Service Chairman, Gareth Rees, present to answer questions. "Some families of ten have lived in the shelter for up to a year which, although not desirable, shows the robustness of the equipment", he said.  In addition to essentials  such as a cooker, pots and pans and some building tools visitors were touched to see a  child's teddy bear which is included in every box.

At the conclusion of the concert and rapturous applause Sgnr Attesti  was thanked by club President, John Clarke, and UWC Atlantic College Principal, John Walmsley.  John Clarke said that it had been hoped to raise enough for a new Shelterbox but as a result of the generosity of the pianist and the wonderful support of the large audience, many from the Rotary Club of Cowbridge, he was delighted to be able to report that sufficient money had been raised for the purchase of two Shelterboxes.  A cheque for £1,180 was presented to Rotary District Governor, Bob Lewis for the charity