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CLIC Sargent is the result of a recent merger between two excellent charities who have done tremendous work with children and their families over the last 30 years. The same 30 years have seen the survival rates for childhood cancer rising from fewer than four out of ten children with cancer surviving to more than seven out of ten surviving. But even with this success, cancer and leukaemia is still the biggest killer, apart from accidents, amongst young children.
Further details of this charity can be found on the following websites:
www.clicsargent.org.uk
www.sargent.org
But there is an added personal bonus in giving this trophy.
Sargent Cancer Care was founded in 1968 by Sylvia Darley OBE as a lasting memory to the late, great, conductor, Sir Malcolm Sargent.
Malcolm Sargent was passionate about bringing the joys of classical music to children and he certainly succeeded with one snotty-nosed teenager.
I was lucky enough to be taken up to the Festival Hall to a truly wondrous series of specially devised schools concerts, where the very best soloists and conductors entertainingly regaled us with funny stories about the vagaries of orchestra life and their frequent tussles with large and cumbersome instruments.
Best of all, there was glorious music. I heard the glamorous 15 year old, Jacqueline du Pré, play her brilliant interpretation of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, one of her earliest solo performances.
There were all those children’s favourites, such as Peter and the Wolf and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra as well as more challenging works. And, just before the interval, my favourite spot. Accompanied by the entire orchestra, we all sang rousing British songs – Do ye ken John Peel, Widdecombe Fair and rousing sea shanties such as What shall we do with a drunken sailor? and Blow the Man Down. It was a truly thrilling experience.
So, I have a lot to give back. And what better way to do it, than...”
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