Sudbury hosts Diva Opera 2018

The wider community of Sudbury came together to enjoy our 7th year of fund raising in aid of St Luke’s Hospice.  Donations were also given to STRA for their local projects and to the amazing young Brent Voluntary Police Cadets.  

With help from Brent’s ‘Love Where You Live’ campaign and the generosity of our ticket sponsors, this year the event took on the idea of a student enrichment programme to include young people. Thirty-eight students, together with some parents and teachers, were invited to experience an evening with Diva Opera along with the Mayor of Brent, our local Member of Parliament and many of our councillors. In the opening speeches we heard from the Head Girl and the Deputy Head Girl of Newman Catholic College who, on behalf of the young students, thanked our sponsors.

Supporting our initiative, Councillor Krupesh Hirani, the Lead Member for Public Health, Culture & Leisure for Brent Council and for 2020 Borough of Culture year, said they will also be focussing on young people.

The second half of the entertainment started with our prize draw. There were 28 prizes with the star prize of a flight for 3 in a Cessna Skyhawk donated by a STRA member. There was a special 18th birthday surprise gift for one of the students.  Richard Suart from Diva Opera sang happy birthday as she stood on the stage with cheers from the audience.

We had a fantastic response from our friends and supporters who generously bought extra tickets and all those who made donations, also our volunteers who worked so hard behind the scenes. Thanks also to Reverend Greville Thomas for the use of St Andrew’s Church with its warm ambience in every meaning of the word.

 We plan to do it all over again this year on Saturday 7th December 2019.