A CONCERT being held in Bewdley is aiming to raise as much money as possible to be donated to Save the Children and The Children’s Society.

Pack Up Your Troubles, taking place at St Anne’s Church will feature poetry, readings and letters from the trenches never heard in public before.

The evening, starting at 7.30pm on Saturday, January 24, will also include songs and parodies, satirical humour, and many well-known choruses for the audience to sing along to.

Opera singer Alan Fairs, once head of economics at King Charles I School, in Kidderminster, and his wife Heather, who was deputy headteacher at Haybridge High School, in Hagley, for more than 25 years will be performing.

Alan and Heather were joint winners of a national competition for performers, which set Alan on his long singing career.

Other participants include The Rev James Butterworth, formerly of St Mary's, Kidderminster, who will return to the area to perform several of the readings, while James Hickson will provide musical accompaniments.

They will all be joined by a large group of Bewdley friends who will be singing and reciting.

Letters which will be recited on the evening includes one from Mary Wear, former headteacher of St Anne's School, whose letter from the trenches written by her father, Maurice Jaggard, refers to, among other things, the glorious song of a skylark.

Organisers said the event promises to be a fun evening for all, as well as a great charity fundraising effort.

Tickets costing £10, which include interval refreshments, are available from Heather Fairs by calling 01299 402475.