Exeter community choir makes a Big Noise for Pete's Dragons - and raises plenty of notes

A community choir was on song for suicide bereavement support charity Pete’s Dragons –  boosting the cause to the tune of £1,760 with a pair of concerts. 

The Exmouth-based charity - helping hundreds of people across Devon – is one close to the heart of the Big Noise Chorus. 

Singers in the non-audition musical group, which has five choirs across the county, have experienced the loss of a loved-one to suicide. 

Chorus member Judy Day put forward Pete’s Dragons as a beneficiary for the work it does helping people cope with suicide bereavement  - always offering ongoing support. 

 “When Judy told me about Pete’s Dragons, we thought it was a cause we should absolutely be raising money for,” said Big Noise Chorus conductor Colin Rea.  

The charity-minded choir has raised around £90,000 for good causes since it was started nearly a decade ago and beneficiaries are chosen by its members. 

The £1,760 for Pete’s Dragons was raised through the visit of a French choir to St Thomas Methodist Church in Exeter in October last year, and the chorus’s concert at Southernhay before Christmas. The two concerts included more than 150 singers. 

Alison Jordan, Pete’s Dragons CEO, said: “We are honoured that Big Noise chose to support us throughout their recent concerts; our volunteers very much enjoyed attending and listening to their performances. Support from community groups such as this one really strengthens the services we are able to provide to those affected by suicide and we are extremely grateful to them for assisting us to do that”. 

To find out more about Pete’s Dragons, visit petesdragons.org.uk.