Twelve primary schools raised about £6,000 for cancer care by performing a charity concert at the Royal Hall in Harrogate.
A total of 258 pupils took to the stage for the sold out concert, which has been held annually since 2015 except for covid.
Sarah Bassitt, who will retire as headteacher of Killinghall Church of England Primary School at the end of the year, was the main organiser of the event.
Funds raised from Friday’s show will go to the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital, which provides cancer treatment.
Ms Bassitt said the raffle raised about £1,000 and the overall tally was expected to exceed £6,000.
“This will mean that over the time that we have been doing the concert we will have raised over £25,000 for local charities.
“It was an amazing evening that was highly appreciated and praised by parents.”
The show included choirs, a wind band, a ukulele group, recorders and dancers.
The finale saw all the children on stage together sing two songs conducted by Helen Potter
Schools taking part were:
Admiral Long and Birstwith CE Primary Schools
Bishop Monkton CE Primary School
Dacre Braithwaite CE Primary School
Hampsthwaite CE Primary School
The Federation of Kettlesing, Felliscliffe, Beckwithshaw & Ripley
Killinghall CE Primary School
The Upper Nidderdale Federation of Schools
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Harrogate district women undress for Calendar Girls revival
A group of brave Harrogate district women took to the stage in a state of undress last night for the opening night of Calendar Girls.
The sell-out show, which ends on Saturday, sees members of Kirkby Overblow Dramatic Society perform an adapted version of the original Calendar Girls film.
The 1999 film is based on the true story of how a group of middle-aged women from Rylstone and District Women’s Institute, near Skipton, posed nude for a risqué calendar to raise money for leukaemia cancer. They have since raised over £5m for the charity Blood Cancer UK.
Three of the original Calendar Girls — Angela Baker, Chris Clancy and Linda Logan — will be in Kirkby Overblow for Saturday night’s finale at All Saints Church.
The cast also agreed to pose for a 2023 calendar shot creatively at local landmarks in Kirkby Overblow.
The December image from the calendar, showing all the cast. Photo: Annette Fishburn Photography
The heart-warming play, written by Tim Firth, is directed by Claire McKenzie from Harrogate. Auditions were held in August.
All profits from the production and calendar will be split between the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital, cancer support charity Maggie’s Yorkshire and Blood Cancer UK.
Dr John Fairfield, chairman of Kirkby Overblow Dramatic Society, said:
“The similarities between the villages of Rylstone and Kirkby Overblow and their close-knit communities made it an obvious choice. The dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm of the cast and crew is inspiring. We are absolutely delighted that Chris, Angela and Linda are able to join us”.
Angela Baker said:
“It is a marvellous legacy that after 23 years when we embarked on our Alternative WI calendar, we are here today still supporting the cause. It’s thanks to casts and crews like this up and down the country that keeps the Calendar Girls story alive and continues to raise funds for Blood Cancer UK.”
Copies of the calendar can be bought for £15 from the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Kirkby Overblow.
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