Liverpool Male Voice Choir repeated history by staging a sell-out charity concert at Wavertree Town Hall.
On Monday evening, the choir held a concert to raise money for Ukrainian refugees - 106 years after performing at the same venue to support people uprooted by WWI.
The choir performed their usual ranging repertoire and all money generated from ticket sales went towards the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, continuing their tradition of supporting charitable causes. They were awarded 'The Freedom Roll of Associations & Institutions of The City of Liverpool' in 2015 for a fund-raising in support of various causes.
Having been established in a house above a fish and chip shop in Wavertree in 1911, they performed at Wavertree Town Hall frequently in the early years of the 20th century - including a charity concert there in 1916 which raised money for refugees affected by WWI. 106 years later, with another war in Europe leading millions to migrate across the continent, the choir took to the same venue to raise funds for Ukrainians having to flee the war-torn nation.
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Natalie Doughty, one of the owners of Wavertree Town Hall, told the ECHO about organising the concert and the choir's return to the venue. She said: "We got a phone call about two and a half weeks ago asking if we would be interested in hosting a charity concert for Ukraine. Without even thinking I said yes straight away because it’s a lovely cause.
"When they came to have a look at the venue, it turned out that they really wanted it to become the venue, because the choir formed in Wavertree in 1911 and they often performed in the Town Hall in the early 20th century.
"In 1916, during WWI, they held a charity concert here for refugees affected by the war. Now they've come back and it’s just such a lovely story for a lovely cause."
The concert proved popular with ticket buyers and Natalie was pleased that her venue was able to play host to the night. She added: "Our capacity is 80 ad we sold nearly 80 tickets, so if they want to do another concert here, that’s not an issue at all, whether it’s for Ukraine or not - they do so much good for charity around Liverpool."
"We took the Town Hall on nearly two years ago and it turns 150 this year, so I just love the fact the stars have aligned for us to be open now, after covid, for them to have called us, and to do that first concert here for charity."
