MEMBERS of Con Brio were delighted to visit the HQ of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance following a wonderful concert which raised £925 for the charity’s Airbase Appeal.

The mixed-voice choir based in Bradford on Avon was supported at the concert by Winsley School Choir and the St Laurence Cello Ensemble and attendees were treated to a wide variety of choral and instrumental music. 

Also present was the mascot Wilber, the undoubted star of the evening, who looked superb in a full flying suit and earphones.

Monica Johnson, a member of the choir’s committee, said: “Last December we had the pleasure of organising a Christmas concert to raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. We were delighted to be invited to Devizes to hand over the cheque and have a tour of the heliport.

“We had been warned that the helicopter might be out on a call but, again, fortune smiled on us. The helicopter landed back just as we arrived. We met the team on duty - two paramedics, trained to deal with acute trauma - and the pilot. They showed us around the surprisingly small aircraft and one of us climbed into the rear, where the patients are cared for.

“All three really seemed to love their job and appeared to cope with what must be extremely pressured situations with great calm and efficiency. We are, indeed, fortunate to live in one of the areas that benefit from this lifesaving service and are very glad to have made a contribution to its continued success.”

Con Brio was founded in 2002 by Shirley Williams and originally was an all-female choir.

Under Shirley’s leadership, it grew rapidly to encompass all voices and developed a reputation for a wide range of musical genres.

Shirley retired in the summer of 2011 and the current musical director is Rob Danter.

The choir has around 35 members and meets weekly on a Tuesday evening to rehearse at the United Church, Bradford on Avon, with members travelling from nearby towns and villages as well as the Bath and Bristol areas.

Con Brio have performed in a variety of venues both local and further afield raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Hollie Perryman, of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We are truly grateful to the Con Brio Choir for donating £925 to our Airbase Appeal following their Christmas concert. It was lovely to meet them all when they visited us and hear about the concert. The funds they raised have gone towards the building and equipping of our new airbase at Semington, near Melksham. Construction of the new airbase is close to being completed and it is due to be operational by this summer.”

Con Brio’s next concert is on Saturday, April 28 at Edington Priory at 7.30pm.

Free admission with a retiring collection for Friends of Edington Priory.