St Woolos Cathedral’s Emergency Campaign was set up in 2009 in order to raise money for restoration and repair work to its roof, which is now in a critical condition.

In aid of the campaign, the school’s music department have arranged a charity concert, which will showcase the musical abilities of children aged seven to 16, to take place at the cathedral on 6.00pm Thursday 25 March.

Confirmed to take part in the concert are the Junior School orchestra, the Junior and Senior School brass bands, the Junior and Senior School choirs, the young recorder group and several student bands.

Campbell Dobbins, music teacher at Rougemont School, says: “As a school we are keen to help the local community and the cathedral is one of the most significant buildings in Newport. It has a rich and detailed history, which is important to preserve for future generations.

“We have held charity events for the cathedral in the past and they have always been well received. The children here are very excited to be taking part in the appeal and are already rehearsing to make sure that the evening a success.”

Dean Dr Richard Fenwick says: “The cathedral authorities have been aware of the poor condition of the roof for some time now. Over the years some repairs have been made, but because of a lack of funds these repairs could only be remedial.

“The roof has continued to deteriorate and has now reached the point where the whole roof must be totally replaced and restored if the cathedral is to function normally in future.”

“There has long been a good association between the cathedral and Rougemont School, which has helped us with events like these before. I’m looking forward to another concert of great music that brings the community together.”

The event will be free to attend with opportunities to donate throughout the evening, with all proceeds going to St Woolos Cathedral. For more information about the appeal or to donate, please visit www.newportcathedral.com/how-to-give/.

ENDS

All media enquiries to Kirsty Callingham at Freshwater on 02920 545387 or email kirsty.callingham@freshwater-uk.com

Notes to Editor:

• Rougemont School (www.rougemontschool.co.uk) is an HMC co-educational independent school for pupils from nursery through to sixth form (age 3-18). Located in Newport the school combines small class sizes with excellent academic results.
• It has over 700 pupils located on a 50 acre site
• Rougemont was placed joint first for Wales in The Financial Times 2006 top 500 Independent Schools league table, scoring the top score for UCAS points per pupils, with an average 395, where an A grade = 120 points. Rougemont also scored an average 3.9 subjects taken per pupil, the highest in Wales.
• The school places a strong emphasis on creating a friendly atmosphere fostering good working relationships between staff and pupils.

Welcoming the news of his appointment Campaign Chair John Child said, “Chris’s experience in local government and his experience in accessing funds will be invaluable to the Campaign.

The Dean Dr Richard Fenwick added, “We had a good working relationship between City and Cathedral during Chris’s time as Managing Director , this is a development of that relationship”.

Chris Freegard had been the Managing Director of Newport City Council since 2001. He previously held a wide range of senior posts in the development and regeneration field in English urban authorities. This includes a City Challenge Company and a Development Corporation. Latterly, he was Director of Regeneration for Plymouth City Council (1995 to 2001).

Chris was a Director of Newport Unlimited, Wales’ only Urban Regeneration Company; the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Company; and is a Governor of the University of Wales, Newport. Chris was also Chair of SOLACE Wales in 2007/08.

He was awarded an OBE for services to local government in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list of 2008.

Rougmount School musicians are to give a concert next month in aid of the Cathedral Campaign. The Concert is at the Cathederal at 6pm on Thursday, March 25th.

Welcoming the news the Dean Dr Richard Fenwick said, “There has long been a good association between the school and the cathedral. Some years ago they gave a concert to a packed cathedral which raised a thousand pounds - I look forward to another similar evening of great music”

The Diocese of Monmouth is organising a fun day of fundraising for its mother church based on the Blaenavon World Heritage Site.

The event, billed as a ‘family day’, will take place on Saturday, April 17th.

Following an visit to the Ironmaster Church: St Peter’s, Blaenavon there will be a talk at the Heritage centre next door by Emyr Morgan.

Following lunch there will be a concert by Bleanavon Male Voice Choir and an address from the local MP and former secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP.

Proceeds from the day will go towards the £1.5 million needed to repair the roof at Newport Cathedral.

Commending the event the Bishop of Monmouth, Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS said, “This is a wonderful chance, not only to support the cathedral, but also to see the remarkable work being done at our great World Heritage Site”.

Former Torfaen councillor Neil Lewis said he was humbled by the news he was to receive an MBE. He is the organiser of the Campaign Lunch in April and previously arranged the schools contribution to the campaign.

Mr Lewis, 64, who was a county councillor for Blaenavon 15 years, was instrumental in the regeneration of the town, which followed after it gained World Heritage status in 2000. This included the revamp of the main shopping area in Broad Street, the development of the World Heritage Centre and the refurbishment of the Workingmen’s club and other buildings in need of repair. During his time as executive member for regeneration for Torfaen council in 2006, he was chairman of the World Heritage Forum for the United Kingdom.

Miss Sollis Secretary of the Campaign is the Cathedral’s Chief Steward. She is also a member of the Governing Body and Representative Body of the Church in Wales. She will be instituted in February at a ceremony in the Cathedral.

Newport High School Old Girls have decided to make the Cathedral Emergency Campaign their Charity for 2010. The Old Girls resident told the Argus she thought it was “an excellent project - and what a project it is to raise over £1million.”

Welcoming the news Campaign Chairman John Child said, “It shows the deep love for this old building that there is in Newport.”

The programme of the Cathedral Campaign’s Fundraising events for 2010 has been released. The list includes at Ball at Caerphilly Castle and a Concert by the renown singer Jeff Hooper.

Also Hugh Phillips Esq., the incoming High Sheriff, is to arrange a Gala Concert at the cathedral in May.

“There are other exciting things in the pipeline for next year, that we hope to reveal shortly,” said Campaign Spokesman Fr Mark Soady.

• Coffee Morning at Bell Vue Park Cearphilly 12th January 10.30am
• High Sheriff’s Concert at the Cathedral 7th May (includes Christ College Choirs and Cor Cantabile Ladies Choir and musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra)
• Monmouth Diocesan Lunch 17th April at Bleanavon
• Jeff Hooper in concert 4th June

To book for any of these events call the Campaign Office on (01633) 215116

Choir member John Granger decided to rope in his two friends, and fellow cathedral singers, Steve Harries and David Owen to help.

He is invited people to come along and sing their favourite hymns at two evening events in Newport and Blackwood and raised over £700.

Other Fundrasing events included: organising lunch for friends, making jam and marmalade and selling plants.

A total of around £2,000 was raised this way.

HRH visited the Cathedral to see for himself the perilous state of the Cathedral’s roof. The Duke last visited the cathedral in late November 2008, prior to the cathedral architect, Michael Davies, issuing his warning that the state of the roof timbers were in a very bad state of decay.

Having been briefed by the architect and inspected the roof HRH attended a working lunch at the Bishop of Monmouth’s residence, where he discussed with the campaign team how best to raise the additional monies needed to start work on the roof. That evening HRH was the principal guest at a Dinner in the Cathedral for potential donors.

Welcoming the news of HRH visit John Child, Campaign Chair said, “We are extremely grateful to our Royal Patron for his continued support. Three visits to the Cathedral in 3 years shows his commitment to ensuring that this unique building is restored”.

Greater Gwent Music in Concert at the Cathedral at 7.30pm, Thursday 7th October 2010