By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
THEY will be raising the rafters at St Andrew’s Church in Plymouth during a charity concert remembering Plymouth cricketer George Stephenson.
George, an all-round sportsman and talented musician, was only 24 when he died in September 2017 after battling cancer for more than two years.
George played the drums in a band when he was not working, playing cricket for Plymouth or charging round the rugby field for Saltash, the Old Plymothians or his university side in Bath.
While being treated for his illness George became involved in a singing project through cancer charity CLIC Sargent and friends he made then are coming together to remember him in song.
George shared a Christmas stage with the La La Choirs group in Exeter in 2016 and the choristers have booked the 600-seater church for a charity concert on Friday, April 5.
Students from Plymouth College and the CLIC Sargent Musicians will be performing alongside La La Choirs.
Money raised on concert night will be divided between CLIC Sargent and a project to refurbish the sports pavilion at Plymouth College, the school George attended. This JustGiving page charts the progress of the appeal
The school has had a sports pavilion for more than a hundred years, but it has not had a major facelift since 1939. When the work is complete, the building will be renamed the George Stephenson Pavilion.
Tickets went on sale a few days ago via the Plymouth College Old Boys’ Association website and the first 50 went in a hurry.
Sam Abrahams, the musical director of La La Choirs, said the concert is not just a fund-raiser but a celebration of a talented young man.
“It’s a chance to not only celebrate George but his legacy, which is of finding joy in life, living it to the full and being positive at all times,” said Sam.
“La La Choirs will host an evening encompassing how George embraced his all too short life with great gusto and enthusiasm.”
George’s talent was spotted at a music workshop organised by CLIC Sargent and led to him being invited to joins a national, fund-raising tour with the CLIC Sargent singers in 2016.
Gigs included the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Exeter Cathedral and a full-house of 5,000-plus at the Royal Albert Hall, where more than £150,000 was raised.
George wrote and performed his own song, which older brother Harry will perform on concert night.
“George was a confident, emotional singer,” said Sam.
“His song was one of positivity, which pretty much sums up who he was.
“George found joy in music and an opportunity to express thoughts and feelings in a very different way to normal.
“He told me it was in stark contradiction to his sporty side. He was very lucky to be so talented in so many areas.”
The rest of the programme will include popular A cappella popular songs from La LA’s repertoire, sung by more than a hundred members from across Devon. There are La La Choir groups in Plymouth, Exeter, Exmouth and Ottery St Mary.
