A BANQUET and auction at Brasserie Blanc in Castle Street delivered an £11,000 boost to Farnham Youth Choir’s tour fund, as the choir prepared for its concert tour of Rome in early April.

The auction, which included an exciting array of prizes including a day preparing and driving a steam traction engine, a behind the scenes trip to the final of University Challenge as a guest of Jeremy Paxman and babysitting services provided by a current member of the choir, raised more than £4,000, a major contribution to the event’s overall profit of £5,000.

However, the fund also received a huge and unexpected boost on the night. The Mayor of Farnham, Pat Frost and her husband Bob, who were guests of FYC at the banquet, made a personal donation of £5,000, with a further £1,000 contribution from the mayor’s discretionary charity fund as a member of Surrey County Council.

On behalf of FYC, chairman Graham Noakes thanked the mayor and her husband for their “extraordinary act of generosity” and also FYC parents Helen Cole and Jason Harris for their efforts in putting together a hugely successful event.

“The trip to Rome, which promises to be one of the most memorable in FYC’s long history of concert tours around the globe, will include the rare privilege of performing at a Papal Mass at St Peter’s Basilica,” he said.

“However, creating such opportunities for our young singers comes at an increasing cost, which cannot be covered by parental contributions on their own. As a result, initiatives such as the banquet at which the team at Brasserie Blanc provided such excellent support, are an essential part of our fundraising programme.”

Forthcoming local events for FYC include a performance of John Rutter’s Mass of The Children at St Thomas-on-the Bourne on Saturday, April 16. A Celebration Concert at The Anvil Basingstoke on Saturday, July 9, will mark the final performance with FYC of its founder and director David Victor-Smith after 32 years, as he hands on the baton to his successor Jo Tomlinson.

Auditions for Farnham Youth Choir, together with the junior girls’ and junior boys’ choirs will take place on Saturday, July 2. For more information on all future events, visit the website www.fyc.org.uk.