"The Loveliest of Trees" - a fundraising concert for street trees

For some time, the Brockley Society’s Tree Committee has been aware of local residents who love trees and want to help, but who don’t have the time to commit.

So we struck upon the idea of staging a classical concert in the historic Stone House on Lewisham Way. This “exceptionally fine late 18th Century Villa”, as the architectural historian Summerson described it, would have been set in open countryside when first built. We are fortunate that the present owner Yvonne Horsfall-Turner generously offered the house for the concert. 

The original inspiration and most of the hard work was taken on by Tree Committee member, Xanthe Mosley. As a result, on Sunday 22nd November, sixty five of us were treated to an immensely successful and enjoyable evening. Besides diligent preparations, Xanthe had coopted various members of her talented family to perform. They were joined by other musician friends of the committee, and in fact, one of the Tree Committee themselves, playing classical oboe! So the spectacular architecture of the house proved the perfect setting for some very impressive chamber music performed for a delighted audience.

Because absolutely everyone involved generously gave their time & effort, over £3,000 was raised that evening exclusively for local street trees. All agreed it to be an event as inspired as the tree conference ‘Trees in the City’, hosted by the Brockley Society in April 2014.

So on behalf of that lucky audience, the entire community and all who love trees, Brockley Society wishes to express its gratitude to Yvonne, Xanthe and her team, and the musicians, for a brilliantly organised and hugely successful evening.

Brockley Society Tree Committee
November, 2015

Image courtesy of Anthony Russell at the Chandos Foundation

Isolde Roxby, Ruby Hughes - sopranos, and James Eastaway - oboe

Our musicians: 

Ruby Hughes - soprano

Isolde Roxby - soprano

James Eastaway - oboe

Andrew and Miranda Harper - violin/viola, piano/cello

Alice Jones - cello

Noah Mosely - piano

Scipio Mosely - classical guitar

Nina Spencer - viola

Hannah Wollacott - classical guitar 

We were very sad that our harpist, Jean Kelly was unable to join us on the night, being delayed overseas, but grateful that our musicians were able to make adjustments to the programme to cover her absence.