Student concert raises hundreds in memory of schoolmate ‘Fish’
A school concert held every year since 2001 in tribute to a pupil who lost his life to cancer, raised £740 to fund research into teenage bone disease.
Lewes Old Grammar School has raised thousands of pounds for the local Anthony Pilcher Trust (APBCT) through its annual ‘FishAid’ event. Unlike some of the school’s more formal events which are programmed by the music department, students were invited to put themselves forward to perform music of their choice in the style of an open mic night.
“Throughout January, all pupils in Years Seven to 13 were invited to sign up to perform at FishAid. It was entirely up to them to choose the music they wanted to share and the school made time for them to rehearse in the music department,” explained LOGS Head of Music, Amoret Abis.
“The response and quality of the performances was fantastic with many wonderful singers performing solos, duos and in small groups of all levels of ability. There were also two amazing guitar solos from Year 9 students, Blaise Levine and Ronan Wilson.”
The line-up included two girl bands that came together especially for the occasion. In year 9, Iona Foster-Gandey, Alicia Davidson and Connie Pike performed as a group, while LOGS staff member Dimitrious Frosynou lent vocals and guitar to another band which included his daughter Olga on violin, Lily Ellis on vocals and Madison Synnott on piano.
The evening ended with a stellar performance by the school’s Rock Orchestra playing Boulevard of ‘Broken Dreams’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’ with singers Oscar Williams, Scarlett Fox and Yasmin O’Mahoney.
Teachers also lent their talents to the show, including Will Ellis, Susana Prada-Garcia, Gemma Rham, Kit Wood, and Rachel Munro, who was also joint-organiser of the event.
“It was a truly amazing evening, with some really gifted pupils and staff entertaining more than 100 people for two hours,” said Anthony’s mum and chair of the charity, Gill Johnston. “The event raised a fantastic amount, which will be put towards research into osteosarcoma, the primary bone cancer that cut Anthony’s life so tragically short.
“The continued support of the staff and pupils at LOGS is fantastic and is really appreciated by all at APBCT.”
Known by his schoolmates as ‘Fish’, Anthony was diagnosed at the age of just 14 with osteosarcoma, a rare cancer that attacks growing bones, in 2001.
The disease spread rapidly and he passed away in 2002, but not before attending the first FishAid concert in his wheelchair.
To find out more about the Anthony Pilcher Bone Cancer Trust, go to: www.apbonecancertrust.org.uk, where you can donate to and buy ‘Follow Me’, a book chronicling Anthony’s story.
