Concert raises £50,000 to help the flood victims

Concerts, gigs and a whole range of events have been held or are being arranged to help raise money for the Calderdale Flood Relief Appeal.
Todmorden based Three Valleys Gospel Choir at the Flood Aid concert held at the Victoria Theatre. Chris Morris ImagesTodmorden based Three Valleys Gospel Choir at the Flood Aid concert held at the Victoria Theatre. Chris Morris Images
Todmorden based Three Valleys Gospel Choir at the Flood Aid concert held at the Victoria Theatre. Chris Morris Images

The Yorkshire Flood Aid concert, held at Halifax’s Victoria Theatre on Sunday was a huge success.

A packed house helped raise around £50,000 for the appeal, while being entertained by comic duo Cannon and Ball, Hipperholme comedian Jack Carroll, singer Lizzie Jones and many more.

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The same day Cannon and Ball released a single, Together We’ll Be OK, with all proceeds going to the Community Foundation for Calderdale’s appeal.

Stacks of other events have been held across Calderdale to raise money for the appeal, which now stands at nearly £780,000.

A ‘Flood Fest’ fundraiser, held at Bolton Brow Working Men’s Club, on Saturday raised a massive £10,000.

There were family events during the day and in the evening live bands and acts took to the stage.

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And the first in a series of Trades Club flood relief fundraisers at Hebden Bridge got off to a flying start as three events last weekend raised a grand total of £4,130.

Grace Cawley and Millie Duncan at the Sowerby Bridge flood relief fundraiser, Bolton Brow WMC.Grace Cawley and Millie Duncan at the Sowerby Bridge flood relief fundraiser, Bolton Brow WMC.
Grace Cawley and Millie Duncan at the Sowerby Bridge flood relief fundraiser, Bolton Brow WMC.

The Holme Street venue opened its doors after the Boxing Day flood as volunteers served more than 3,000 meals to local people, and is still waiting for its flooded cellar to refurbished, but despite that they wanted to use their contacts to raise money. The club’s regular monthly Thursday night quiz hosted by Dave Boardman kicked off their fundraising drive with a record number of teams battling it out, and digging deep for the raffle which raised £560.

Hotly tipped local indie rock band Sly Antics were the first act to approach the Trades about a gig pulling together a top quality bill featuring The Rambles, Sleepers and Arkanes, As well as headlining the gig, where all the bands donated their services for free, Sly Antics asked their friends to donate raffle prizes including a free weekend in a French holiday home which helped the bands raise another £2,450 for the pot.

The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess had already been booked to play a DJ set but when he saw the scene of devastation on the TV he contacted The Trades to ask if they had an hour spare on Saturday afternoon. Tim quickly put together a one off Telling Stories event talking about his best selling autobiography packed with classic rock and roll stories from his days in one of Britain’s best selling indie band. The event was also supported by Yorkshire Tea who offered some goodies for sale and Tim produced a limited run of 100 Telling Stories posters, which he signed after the talk, raising another £1,120 which he has already sent to the flood fund. Trades Club promoter Mal Campbell said: “Although I am not surprised our friends wanted to do something to help everyone at the club have been incredibly touched that all the acts not only all been offered their services for free but went the extra mile to make sure the total we have raised in just one weekend is so impressive.

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“We have loads more events planned to raise money and we still have a few of Tim’s signed posters left via www.tradecclub.com if anyone wants to add more to the total.”

Kenidi Burton-Chambers, Jodie Pettifor, Danielle Mohr and Myla Lamb, at the Sowerby Bridge flood relief fundraiser, Bolton Brow WMC.Kenidi Burton-Chambers, Jodie Pettifor, Danielle Mohr and Myla Lamb, at the Sowerby Bridge flood relief fundraiser, Bolton Brow WMC.
Kenidi Burton-Chambers, Jodie Pettifor, Danielle Mohr and Myla Lamb, at the Sowerby Bridge flood relief fundraiser, Bolton Brow WMC.

The club will host another fundraiser on Wednesday, January 20, when Trades regulars stand up Mark Thomas and I Am Kloot frontman John Bramwell have volunteered their services.

HT Fitness gym in Ripponden raised around £1,000 from a four-hour Spinathon (exercising on static bikes) held outdoors at Oldham Road. As well as donations from those taking part, passers by gave cash and a jar on the bar of the nearby Silk Mill pub helped boost the total.