Exeter School pupils donate nearly £40k to WaterAid

Exeter School pupils have raised nearly £40,000 for WaterAid over the past 20 years by performing concerts to raise awareness of the charity.

WaterAid was established in 1981 with one goal: to change the world through clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. By the end of the nineties, they had reached over six million people with these vital resources, helping them to build a better life.

In 2001 the talented young musicians and singers from Exeter School gave the first of many, annual concerts to raise funds for the international charity.

Each year, these events have been held in a variety of venues – from the majestic Exeter Cathedral itself to the comforting surrounds of St Michael’s and All Angels church in Heavitree – and usually feature around 150 pupils ranging from 11 to 18 years of age.

This year’s Christmas Concert was somewhat special since an earlier school event had been cancelled due to snow. This resulted in a programme which was not exclusively festive as it has tended to be in previous years. As a consequence, a grand total of 10 different ensembles featured, along with soloists Lucia (Year 13) on her flute, Tom (Year 11) playing his trumpet and ‘cellist Dominic (also Yr 11).

Pupils from across the senior school were involved in the concert, along with junior school violinists Grace and Taylor, who are regular members of the Symphony Orchestra.

The audience were invited to join in the music-making, singing Hark! The Herald and O Come, All Ye Faithful, joining the pupil singers and accompanied by Exeter School's Symphony Orchestra and school accompanist Mr Daldorph on the organ.

It is not only musical prowess that is often on display at these events but also various other initiatives such as the exhibition of Exeter School’s ‘Young Artists Collective’ (YAC) artwork last year. Each pupil in the YAC was asked to create a digital image which responded to the growing concern of the water crisis and causes of climate change that face our world today. They presented their visual narratives of the charity’s efforts to concert attendees on performance night and sold bundles of Christmas cards to contribute to the funds being raised.

Peter Tamblyn, Exeter School's Director of Music, said that the annual WaterAid concert is of a great long-term significance to him personally and he takes great pride in "the knowledge that we do a little good for those in desperate conditions in the depths of countries like Zambia, which I still consider my second home. I spent four years working in the Copperbelt Region, and took the opportunity to travel as much as I could then.

"I saw the daily struggles of decent, happy people who have, through no fault of their own, no access to running water in their village. It amazes me how a simple borehole in can change people’s lives, providing water for drinking, hygiene, and irrigation in the long dry season.

"None of us here have to worry about running water for ourselves today, this week, or this month, and through participating with WaterAid I hope that the children involved will be inspired to make a change for those without clean water sometime in the future."

Zena Hamilton, Water Industry Partnerships Officer for WaterAid said, “On behalf of everyone at WaterAid, a heartfelt thank you to all those involved in this special concert and for your incredible 20 years of fundraising support! A special mention to the organisers, especially Peter Tamblyn, as well as the performers and audience for making this event possible. Your valuable support helps us continue our vital work: changing lives through clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.”

The concerts each year are hoped to continue as they show great collaboration and serve such an important reminder to help those in need.

For information about WaterAid's work in Zambia, please visit www.wateraid.org