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Christmas boost for Cotswold Canals

5th Jan 2004

Plans to restore the Cotswold Canals have received a boost from the proceeds of a Christmas concert held in Gloucester Cathedral on 4 December, organised by the charity, The Waterways Trust.

The concert attracted 490 people and raised £1,637, all of which will be used to help fund the Cotswold Canals Restoration. The event was supported by the Countryside Trust and Severn Print, Gloucester.

The restoration of the Cotswold Canals will once again link England’s two greatest rivers, the Thames and the Severn. This major restoration will benefit local communities, businesses and the local ecology, while conserving an important part of the heritage of the Cotswolds. The public appeal for the restoration of the Cotswolds Canals was launched in May 2003 at a reception hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales. It is hoped that the appeal will raise £750,000 towards the cost of the restoration.

Roger Hanbury, Chief Executive of The Waterways Trust, said, "The concert was a resounding success and we are most grateful to everyone who attended and to our celebrity guests for their contribution. The money raised will go to the Conservation Management Plan which takes us another step along the way towards the restoration of the Cotswold Canals."

The concert programme included extracts from Handel’s Messiah and other songs sung by the Saint Cecilia Singers, directed by Robert Houssart. The audience sang traditional Christmas carols and listened to readings by Loyd Grossman and two of The Waterways Trust’s Vice Presidents, Paul Atterbury of BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow and Sonia Rolt.

Last updated: 22/10/2008