The Downsmen Help the URC Fight Leprosy

On the last Saturday in November, a packed United Reform Church in Bookham gave a warm welcome to The Downsmen. The ensuing concert was in aid of the Nepal Leprosy Trust, a cause dear to the hearts of the church members, and raised £700 from ticket sales. Stalls selling Nepalese goods made a further contribution.

In addition to the singing, the audience heard about the operation in Nepal from the treasurer of the trust, James Lowther. He illustrated his talk with views of the leprosy hospital and its surroundings. The complex plays host to visitors from other countries, and is being hailed as the way forward in the battle against a disease that used to make outcasts of the unfortunates who contracted it. Now attitudes are changing in Nepalese communities, and the sufferers are being integrated back into their villages. This is in part due to the skills being taught to them by the Trust. If someone with leprosy can help improve the economics of the area, then that person could be welcomed back into the local society.

The Downsmen were also in action at a Christmas dinner for Friends of the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall in December. Almost 150 diners were treated to a mix of songs, and then encouraged to join in a spot of carol singing lead by this male barbershop chorus.

On both occasions the entertainers took the opportunity to plug their ‘Learn to Sing in Harmony' course. Any interested men were urged to try a free six-week course at the Methodist Church in Leatherhead due to take place from early February.