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Rotary in Guildford presents £4,500 to the Mayor of Guildford’s chosen charities

Rotary in Guildford presents £4,500 to the Mayor of Guildford’s chosen charities

Representatives of Rotary in Guildford presented Phyllis Tuckwell and The Cheryl King Trust with cheques totalling £4,500. The funds, raised at the Mayor of Guildford’s Christmas Concert organised by Rotary in Guildford in partnership with Vivace Chorus, will support two charities chosen by the Mayor, Cllr Howard Smith.

The annual Christmas concert is a heart-warming Guildford tradition and continues to be a significant fundraiser for the Mayor’s charities. This year, Phyllis Tuckwell and The Cheryl King Trust each received £2,250, raised through a sold‑out performance by the highly acclaimed Vivace Chorus.

In a joint statement, the Rotary Clubs of Guildford Wey & Chantries said:
“We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and supported the concert. We are especially grateful to our event sponsors, the Guildford Butchery, Barchester Silverbirch Care Home and AJ Bennewith & Co, whose generosity helped make this fundraising success possible. We’d also like to thank Guildford Inner Wheel for serving the refreshments.”

Cllr Howard Smith, the Mayor of Guildford, added:
“My thanks go to Rotary in Guildford for once again organising this wonderful Christmas concert, and for their ongoing service to our community. I’m so grateful to the Vivace Chorus. Their magnificent performance contributed to another sold‑out event in support of my chosen charities.”

The cheque presentation took place at The Guildhall. Ruth Masters, Head of Community and Events Fundraising, from Phyllis Tuckwell and Tony Hennessey-Brown, a Trustee, from The Cheryl King Trust accepted the donations on behalf of their respective charities. The cheques were presented by, the Mayor of Guildford accompanied by Andy Bowen-Ashwin, President of Rotary Club of Guildford Wey.

The next Mayor’s Christmas Concert will take place at 7pm on Sunday 13 December at Holy Trinity Church.

Notes to Editors

Quotes from the Mayor of Guildford’s charities

Phyllis Tuckwell

Ruth Masters, Head of Community and Events Fundraising, from Phyllis Tuckwell: 

“We’re grateful to be one of the Mayor’s chosen charities this year. As Guildford’s local hospice care charity, we rely on the support of our community and events like this wonderful concert kindly organised by Rotary in Guildford and Vivace Chorus. The money raised will enable us to continue to provide our care, free of charge to our patients and their families.”

Phyllis Tuckwell provides palliative and end of life care for adult patients and families in West Surrey and North-East Hampshire, who are living with an advanced or terminal illness such as cancer. It supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers every day, through medical and nursing care, therapies, counselling, social work advice and practical support. It cares for people on its In-Patient Unit, through its Hospice at Home service in patients’ own homes, and at its Living Well sessions at the Beacon Centre in Guildford. https://www.pth.org.uk/

The Cheryl King Trust

Tony Hennessey-Brown, a Trustee, from The Cheryl King Trust: “I was bowled over by the concert. It’s great that all this money will go to help children and young people to learn an instrument for the first time.”

The aim of The Cheryl King Trust is that no young person in Surrey should be prevented from learning a musical instrument because their parents can’t afford it. This is achieved by providing bursaries for instrument lessons and grants for music ensembles. www.cherylkingtrust.org.uk

Photos supplied:

Rotary in Guildford cheque presentation (people from left to right)

  • Andrew Jackson – Rotary Club of Guildford Wey
  • Richard Dacey, Chairman of Vivace Chorus
  • Ruth Masters, Head of Community and Events Fundraising, from Phyllis Tuckwell
  • The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Howard Smith
  • Andy Bowen-Ashwin, President of Rotary Club of Guildford Wey
  • Tony Hennessey-Brown, a Trustee, from The Cheryl King Trust
  • Margaret Lonsdale – Rotary Club of Guildford Wey
  • Mike Danson, Rotary Club of Guildford Chantries

The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Howard Smith presenting cheque for £2,250 to Tony Hennessey-Brown, a trustee of The Cheryl King Trust accompanied by Andy Bowen-Ashwin, President of Rotary Club of Guildford Wey.

The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Howard Smith presenting cheque for £2,250 to Ruth Masters, Head of Community and Events Fundraising, from Phyllis Tuckwell, accompanied by Andy Bowen-Ashwin, President of Rotary Club of Guildford Wey.


​ Press contact: Beverley Stonehouse – e-mail Beverley.Stonehouse@guildford.gov.uk