Twinning link calls the tune for charity

Nov 12 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

MEMBERS of West Lothian Schools Brass Band raised cash for charity while building links with their German counterparts.

West Lothian Council is twinned with Hochsauerlandkreis in Germany and for many years the authority’s Arts Services have promoted positive exchanges with youth music groups.

Earlier this summer, Hochsauerlandkreis Brass Band, together with West Lothian Schools Brass Band, organised a joint concert at the newly- refurbished Howden Park Centre in Livingston.

The event was a tremendous success, with a full capacity attendance, and over £1000 was raised for the Christine Witcutt Memorial Fund.

Christine Witcutt was an Edinburgh Direct Aid volunteer killed by a sniper in the Bosnian War and West Lothian Council had previously supported efforts to assist the people of Kluj in Bosnia to set up the Christine Witcutt Special Needs School and it was agreed to forward funds to this charitable organisation, which provides physiotherapy and social work support for around 25 severely disabled children.

Prior to their reciprocal visit to Hochsauerlandkreis in October 2009, the Christine Witcutt Memorial Fund thanked the German and Scottish young people for their tremendous musical talents and gave a special thank you to Gordon Connolly, West Lothian Council's international partnerships officer, and all the staff at Howden Park Centre.