THE ATHENAEUM SINGERS

The Athenaeum Singers is an established innovative Wiltshire county choir, under new and energetic leadership, which mainly performs classical works supported by orchestras/ensembles/organists/soloists as required for the various works.

THE CHOIR IS ENTIRELY SELF-FUNDED, AND DEPENDS ON GENEROUS VOLUNTARY SUPPORT. WE SEEK TO HELP IT CONTINUE AND EXPAND WHAT IT DOES.

On top of this existing generosity we are looking for additional funds to enable a new programme of community outreach and engagement with younger people, and to help us sustain our programmes into the future. We hope to open up opportunities for more people to perform, participate and be engaged in our music than are currently available.

The choir's performances are well reviewed, and are vigorously led by a new musical director who is encouraging us to expand our skills and repertoir.

Your support will greatly help us to do this.

WHAT I AM DOING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS FUND RAISING EFFORT

Four years ago, I took up paramotoring which is powered paragliding and the most basic form of powered flight in existence. No runways or tarmac; just a breeze in the face, some grass, and a bit of running to get into the air.

To mark this fundraising effort I intend in May 2019 to fly from Warminster to Scotland by paramotor. My planned route is about 360 miles in length. Since I fly though the air at 25mph, and drop out of the sky after a little over 2 hours when the fuel runs out, I plan to make a series of two hour hops, landing en route where people have offered fields, or at small airfields. Light wind from the SW will help; so I’ll choose my moment. It’s not an unprecedented length of flight, but I’m probably – at 65 – older than most who have done something like this!

My planned route is Warminster to the NE, passing S and then E of Leicester, and then up the eastern edge of the Pennines and the Cheviots, to a field in the SE of Scotland just north of Berwick-on-Tweed. I will photograph and film the trip; so there should be plenty of evidence. And I will blog progress!