Stars come out for Waterloo concert

Nearly 800 supporters and guests packed into Exeter Cathedral on June 20th to enjoy an evening of music and readings to remember the Battle of Waterloo and honour the courage and service of British soldiers over the last 200 years. 

Joining the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lord Mayor were Chelsea Pensioners, members of the Coldstream Guards and local favourites Caroline Quentin and Angela Rippon. The concert was held to raise funds for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the National Charity of the British Army.

Highlights of the evening, which featured the Exeter Symphony Orchestra, Exeter Philharmonic Choir and Exeter Pipers, were international violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen’s performance of The Lark Ascending and a world premiere performance.  Chagford harpist and composer Elizabeth-Jane Baldry had written ‘A Song for our Soldiers’ especially for the night and it was sung beautifully by Army wife, Davina Hastings.

Caroline Quentin read from Byron’s poem The Eve of Waterloo and Angela Rippon reprised her role as BBC newsreader to present an eyewitness report from the battlefield written by Peter Snow, father of historian Dan Snow, who had also contributed.  Call the Midwife actor Jack Ashton read from a letter written by a wounded young soldier to his father back home.

Regional Director for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, retired colonel Robert Jordan said: “The evening has been a triumph thanks to the work of the organiser Hamish Monro and his team from our Devon Fundraising Committee. 

"The funds from tonight’s concert will make a major contribution to our work in the County.  People here are generous by nature and we are very grateful to everyone who has either come along tonight or sent in donations. 

"Last year in Devon over £63,000 was raised across the county but we spent over £70,000 helping more than 100 serving personnel, veterans and their families.” 

To learn more about the work done by The Soldiers’ Charity and how to help, contact ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Exeter, telephone 01392 492650 or email: southwest@soldierscharity.org