SWANSEA: Lord Mayor launches charity appeal at the market — with choirs, school singers and collection tins

Cllr Penny Matthews officially launched her year's appeal for the St David's Medical Foundation at Swansea Market on Friday, with performances from the Swansea Male Choir and pupils from Christchurch Primary School.

Kit Peters
4 Min Read
The Lord Mayor of Swansea in her chains of office standing with a group of primary school children in Swansea Market
The Lord Mayor of Swansea, Cllr Penny Matthews, with pupils from Christchurch Primary School at the launch of her charity appeal (Image: Swansea Council / Facebook)

Swansea‘s Lord Mayor has thanked the traders, volunteers and crowds who turned out as she launched her charity appeal with an afternoon of music at the market.

Cllr Penny Matthews welcomed residents, traders and visitors to Swansea Market‘s garden area on Friday for the official launch of the appeal, raising money for the St David’s Medical Foundation.

The foundation supports medical research, including work to help people living with arthritis.

Shoppers were treated to a programme of entertainment, with the Swansea Male Choir in full voice among the stalls and pupils from Christchurch Primary School singing to guitar accompaniment beside the market’s decorated piano.

A group of primary school children singing beside a microphone in Swansea Market, accompanied by a guitarist sitting at the market's decorated piano
Pupils from Christchurch Primary School performing at the launch (Image: Swansea Council / Facebook)

Volunteers carried Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund collection tins through the market during the event, with charity balloons and bunting strung between the stalls.

Two volunteers holding red Lord Mayor's Charity Fund collection tins in Swansea Market
Volunteers with Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund collection tins at the market (Image: Swansea Council / Facebook)

Cllr Matthews said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the launch of my charity appeal. The atmosphere in the market was fantastic and it was clear how much goodwill there is for this important cause.”

She thanked the performers, the market’s traders and everyone who attended and donated. “Your generosity will help fund research that can make a real difference to people’s lives,” she said.

The Lord Mayor added that the foundation played an important role in supporting medical innovation and education, and that she was proud to raise awareness of its work during her year in office.

Glan Rees, chair of the St David’s Medical Foundation, said it had been a pleasure to be part of the occasion. “The market is always a great place to visit, and the support from the crowd was fantastic,” he said.

He added: “We’re a charity that’s helping drive forward important medical research every day. It’s events like this that really show the strength of the local community coming together for a good cause.”

The Swansea Male Choir in sky-blue polo shirts performing in Swansea Market, with their conductor smiling in the foreground
The Swansea Male Choir performing at the launch (Image: Swansea Council / Facebook)

Collection boxes were in place across the market throughout the event, with further fundraising activities planned in support of the appeal in the months ahead.

The launch was the latest in a busy civic calendar for the market’s garden area, which has become a regular stage for community events at the heart of the city centre.

Author

Kit Peters

Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.


Discover more from Swansea Bay News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Share This Article
Follow:
Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Swansea Bay News

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading