An 18th century violin, a quorum of local music-lovers and the vaulted surroundings of Lowther Castle’s Sculpture Gallery helped the village of Hunsonby to raise £1000 last week and bring its community centre one step closer to re-opening.
The funds were raised at a solo violin recital by Chloë Hanslip – a family friend of Bryan Gray, chairman of Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust. She played a demanding programme of Biber, Prokofiev and Bach.
Many of the concert guests came early and wandered round the exhibition, the gardens, the castle ruins before enjoying a light supper in Lowther’s café.
The Community Centre at Hunsonby was formerly the village school which closed in 1974. Owing to its poor condition, the community centre is out of use but following local consultation, plans have been drawn up to refurbish the centre, adding a new kitchen extension. The project will cost over £250,000.
Following the concert, Bryan Gray – a member of the Hunsonby Village Hall committee – said: “We have already raised almost £200,000 from grants and fundraising activities. We are keen to achieve our target this year so that work can be complete in 2020. The money raised from Chloë’s concert takes us another step closer to achieving our target.”
