MP sings in gala fundraiser for Cardinal Hume Centre

l-r: Richard Black, Sarah Teather MP; Canon Pat Browne

A gala fundraiser for the Cardinal Hume Centre took place at Holy Apostles parish hall in Pimlico, central London, on Saturday evening, with a wine tasting, an auction and a concert of classical songs and arias, sung by Catholic MP Sarah Teather and Canon Pat Browne accompanied by pianist Richard Black.

The short wine tasting was led by Margaret Harvey, Master of Wine. Guests sampled wines from France, New Zealand, Spain and South Africa. This was followed by an auction with some very generous bidding for lots, including luxury hampers, restaurant meals, tickets to major football matches and an art tour.

The highlight of the night then, was the concert of music by Handel, Vaughan Williams, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi and others, sung by Sarah Teather, Lib Dem MP, who is Minister for State for Children and Families, and Canon Pat Browne, Parish Priest at Holy Apostles and Roman Catholic Duty Priest to Parliament - the first since the Reformation. They were accompanied by pianist Richard Black. All three gave terrific performances and received a standing ovation and encore.

(They are still counting but have already raised more than £4,000).

If there had been CDs for sale on Saturday - they would have sold a large number.

Before she was elected - becoming the youngest MP in Westminster - Sarah Teather sung for several years with the London Symphony Chorus. She is a founder member of the North London Ensemble and is a regular cantor in her local parish.

Fr Pat studied music at the College of Music in Dublin while he was training for the priesthood at All Hallows. He has sung with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Choir, and was part of the liturgical team and cantor at Westminster Cathedral for eight years - singing the Gospel during the visit of Pope John Paul II and at the Vatican.

Richard Black has worked for opera companies great and small in the UK, and has accompanied many performers at the Wigmore Hall and St John Smith Square, as well as in America and Europe.

The Cardinal Hume Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Established by Cardinal Basil in 1986, it works with young homeless people, families in overcrowded accommodation, asylum seekers, recovering addicts and the unemployed. Staffed largely by volunteers the centre supports more than 1,000 clients a year with housing, advice, job training and counselling.

For more information, and to make a donation, see: www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/