Robert Wolfe concert in North Walsham
FAMOUS organist Robert Wolfe will give an afternoon concert in North Walsham Community Centre this Sunday, February 15, at a Rotary fund-raiser aimed at eradicating the scourge of polio from the world.
FAMOUS organist Robert Wolfe will give an afternoon concert in North Walsham Community Centre this Sunday, February 15, at a Rotary fund-raiser aimed at eradicating the scourge of polio from the world.
Robert, who has played Thursford's Wurlitzer organ for the past 27 years, is also a regular on BBC Radio 2.
He will play the Lowery organ in North Walsham to help the town's Rotary club play its part in a $200m challenge thrown down by Microsoft mogul Bill Gates.
The international Rotary organisation is committed to raising the sum by June 2012 in return for a $355m grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
At sixteen Robert became the youngest musician at that time to join the team of organists at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool. In 1981, aged 19, he was invited to inaugurate the Wurlitzer show at the Thursford Collection. The sight and sound spectacular has become known as The Thursford Experience.
He has also played Thursford's Wurlitzer for a TV audience of some 20 million during a live broadcast of the National Lottery draw.
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Polio virus is still present in parts of the world including Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Rotary will use the cash to immunise children through partners including the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.
So far Rotarians worldwide have raised nearly $73m towards their goal and each club is being challenged to organise an annual public fundraiser for the next three years.
Polio eradication has been Rotary's top priority since 1985, with more than $1.2bn contributed to the effort. Bill Gates has praised Rotary's efforts in bringing about a 99pc decline in the number of polio cases to date.
* Tickets for Sunday's concert, which begins at 3pm, cost �7.50 and are available from Broadland Travel, Market Place North Walsham or tel. 01692 406655.