Musicians from BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra to play at St John's church in Wick

A Wick church which has recently seen improvements to its building is to host two renowned musicians at a unique fundraising event.

St John’s Scottish Episcopal Church in Moray Street will welcome members of the community to an evening of live music on Tuesday, August 30.

Alex Jakeman, principal flute with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and Carol Ella, viola player with the London Symphony Orchestra who is currently playing with the highly acclaimed Dante Quartet, will head the bill of a musical programme supported by the Poltney Bell Ringers.

Carol Ella has history in returning to her native Wick to support local fundraising events. In the past she has brought a string quartet to perform Frank Joseph Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ in the Pulteney Parish Church to help fund renovations. On another occasion she came home to help the Wick Heritage Centre fundraise and accompanied the well-known local musician, James Ross.

This time she is supporting St John’s to raise money to help repay a loan which helped fund the cost of a new fully accessible toilet and improved approach to the church and grounds, which was completed earlier this summer.

The Poltney Bell Ringers have a long association with St John’s and often take part in church services on high days and holidays. They were delighted to welcome Alex and Carol to ring with them last Christmas Eve in the church.

Part of the programme by the bell ringers will see them take a Stroll in the Park by Michael Coe and a brief visit to part of an opera by Amilcare Ponchielli, among other pieces.

The event begins at 7.30pm. There is an entrance donation of £7 for the evening which includes ice cream served during the interval.

Meanwhile, a book sale will be held in the church hall on September 2-3 between 10am and 2pm.

There will be a range of novels and factual books on sale, plus a range of DVDs, and organiser Gordon Johnson said there will also be a small collection of books and magazines on the art of card-making.

St John's remains open to visitors on Wednesdays until the end of September from noon to 3pm.

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