800 people enjoy Proms at Bicton Park

Revellers danced the night away and waved their union jack flags at the Proms in Bicton Park, raising £13,600 for local charity, Hospiscare.

More than 800 people attended the event on a summer’s evening in the idyllic setting of the Grade 1 listed Italian gardens, surrounded by immaculately manicured lawns with beautiful flower beds and trees.

India’s “Pavarotti” Anando Mukerjee and soprano Laure Meloy performed with the Lympstone based South West Telecom Band and pianists Nicky and Mark Perry.

Bicton owner Valerie Lister, who kindly offered the venue free of charge, led the dancing.  The evening ended with a magnificent firework display around the lake. 

Organiser Ann Blake said: “Everyone had a wonderful time, the idyllic setting, the wonderful music, songs and good weather made it a perfect night.”

The two opera singers are internationally acclaimed.

Anando who is based in London and regularly visits Devon working with Devon Opera, said Bicton was his favourite venue and he was pleased to support such a worthy charity as Hospiscare.

Laure, an American, is currently a principal artist at English Touring Opera and gladly accepted Anando’s invitation to Bicton. She lost both her parents to cancer and greatly appreciated the care which they received in her homeland from visits by local hospice nurses.

“It made such a different to my parents and the whole family, for them to be able to stay at home, and not have to go into a hospital," said Laure.

Hospiscare is a local charity which provides specialist end of life care to those with a terminal illness and annually supports 2,000 patients and their families across Exeter, Mid and East Devon. It needs £4.5m a year to do this.

If you would like to help Hospiscare by offering a venue or organising a fundraising event please contact Sarah Smith, Hospiscare events and community fundraising manager: Email: s.smith@hospiscare.co.uk or phone:01392 688095