Heartfelt support from our patron Terry waite

A few words from our Patron read at the launch of the Prison Choir Project:

'I am really sorry that due to the fact that's I am in New Zealand I am not able to be with you tonight.
Music has always meant a great deal to me and I appreciated just how much in meant when for five years as a hostage I was totally deprived of music of any kind. There was one exception. One night I was awakened by the sound of singing in the street outside the building in which I was kept. It was a lovely melody and was the first music I had heard in years. It was repeated the second night and the mystery singer continued for several nights after that. Then it ceased as suddenly as it had started. 
I puzzled about this and only much later did I discover that the singer was someone walking through the streets before dawn broke to waken faithful Muslims so that they could eat before starting the long day of fasting in Ramadan. 
Music has the capacity to breath harmony into the soul and the music I heard brought me some peace during troubled days.
I am a great supporter of music in prisons as it can be a part of a process that enables individuals to find harmony in their own lives.
I hope you will give your full support to this worthwhile project.

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