Friends in fine voice for charity

HIGH-QUALITY harmonies from the Musical Friends . . . (back, from the left) Shaun Penton, Chesney Talbot, Nigel Winters, Ian Curran, Sarah Thewlis, Nicky Mead,(front, from the left) Jordanne Woodward, Daniel Winters, Johanna Batterby and Dawn Leigh

Songs from the shows set to boost chairman’s appeal

EARS will be ringing for all the right reasons this weekend as the performing group Musical Friends takes to the stage in aid of charity.

The event will see the singing group, now in its seventh year, backed by a four-piece band to belt out both classics and some modern favourites from the West End.

The audience at tomorrow’s show, at Uppermill Civic Hall, will be treated to hit after hit as the group puts its own spin on numbers from shows such as “Les Miserables” and “Mamma Mia”.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to charities chosen by Saddleworth Parish Council chairman Councillor Alma McInnes, who has decided to aid Macmillan Cancer Support during her year in office.

Money will also go to her other choice, Myasathenia Gravis Association, to support sufferers of the disease that attacks nerves and weakens muscles.

Councillor McInnes’s charity committee has already raised £14,000 since May last year.

She said: “We are in a recession and people have so many other demands on their pockets and time, but it has been wonderful to see the amount of support I have had.”

She admits that the Musical Friends never fail to bring her to tears with their medley of songs from “Les Miserables”.

The Oldham-based group first performed to raise funds for a rose queen at St Barnabas Church in Oldham, but after seven years and £90,000 raised for various charities, the volunteers know they have struck a winning formula.

Concert organiser Paul Osbaldistone said: “The group are as professional as can be, the singers are some of the best in the Oldham area and they really feel the support when they are on that stage.

“It’s high-quality stuff, the harmonies are just fantastic and every performance is for charity.”

Drinks will be provided by The Waggon Inn and tickets will be £6 and available on the door, the performance starts at 7.30pm. Alternatively visit Uppermill Post Office, The Waggon Inn or contact 01457-876425 for advance tickets.


:: If you’re going, say hello to the Chronicle promotions team, who will be taking pictures and introducing Saddleworth Extra — the new free weekly newspaper for the area.