On 21 August 2003 the Society staged its first charity concert (for Age Concern) at the Cricklade Theatre (now The Lights), in Andover. The event, titled ‘Keyboard Charisma’ and featuring Nicholas Martin , in company with Mike Thomson (piano), was acclaimed a resounding success by everyone concerned. Guest of Honour at the sell-out concert was former Southampton FC Manager Lawrie McMenemy, in his capacity as Vice President of Age Concern, Hampshire. Also present were local MP, Sir George Young, and the Deputy Mayor of Test Valley, Neville Whiteley. Lawrie clearly enjoyed the evening and wittily described Nicholas Martin as “the best player to come out of Leicester since Gary Lineker!” This particular event produced the very commendable sum of £1,500 for Age Concern.
Since inception, the Society has helped to raise a total in excess of £13,000 for various charitable organisations, for which the performances of Dr Carol Williams and especially DirkJan Ranzijn have greatly contributed. Other charities since supported by the Society have included the following:
Age Concern (Andover)
Chernobyl Children’s Life Line
Transform (Testway Housing)
Macmillan Cancer Support
Naomi House Children’s Hospice
Countess of Brecknock Hospice
St John Ambulance
Miracles To Believe In (Autism)
BBC Children in Need
Hampshire & IoW Air Ambulance
Enham Trust (supporting disabled people)
Help for Heroes (Tedworth House)
St Thomas’s Church, Charlton
St Michael and All Angels Church, Weyhill
Andover Young Carers
Ludgershall Memorial Hall
Upper Clatford Village Hall
Andover & District Mencap
Andover Stroke Club
Multiple Sclerosis Society (Andover & District)
Neighbourcare, Andover
Wiltshire Air Ambulance
Andover Methodist Church
– and a number of other local charities
(e.g. appeals by respective Mayors of Test Valley)
Methods of fund-raising have included:
Dedicated concerts (including use of alternative venues)
Donations for special calendars containing full concert details
Contributions received from the audience for interval refreshments
Donations received for music requests at special concerts
Performances and collections in local town centre and supermarkets
Allocation of concert tickets (for onward selling)
Concert exit collections
The Club was nominated for the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2017