On 4th and 5th November 2008, there will be two momentous Lunchtime Concerts, at St John’s Burlington Methodist Church, St John’s Street, Bridlington on the 4th and at Whitby Pavilion on the 5th. Both concerts start at 12.30 pm.

The legendary Terry Waite CBE will be relating his own heart-rending account of how he survived 1,763 days in captivity. This was after securing the release of several hostages in Iran, and after negotiating with Colonel Ghadafi for the release of British hostages held in Libya. Almost four years of Terry’s own capture as a Beirut hostage were spent in solitary confinement when he was chained to the floor and in total darkness. Apart from his family, the things he missed most of all were books and music, and during these concerts, Vincent Billington will play some of the music that is close to Terry’s heart, and fits the mood of his story. The combination of words and music is a unique and compelling experience.

It is not a sad story, but it is a courageous one, and sometimes a humorous one. Terry Waite is a truly charismatic figure with an infectious sense of humour, and even in the midst of being tortured as a hostage, this still shone through. He is a great friend of the Catholic Church, and Pope John Paul II invited him to the Vatican after securing the release of Fr Jenko. Be prepared to be uplifted and entertained by one of the greatest men of the 20th century.

Terry is instantly recognizable anywhere in the world, and his brilliant speaking skills are also in great demand all over the globe. It is a fact that this brilliance is an inspiration to everyone who is lucky enough to hear him, and the general opinion is that their lives are enriched beyond measure.

He is known by Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers, yet he remains humble and very approachable. He will be delighted to meet his audience after the concerts.

Vincent Billington is an acclaimed concert pianist, who has played full-time for the BBC, and has appeared with most British orchestras. A parishioner of St Edward’s, Scarborough, he wrote a long series of articles for ‘The Universe’. He was also invited to play for the then Prime Minister, John Major, at the Houses of Parliament in a series of concerts arranged by the former Speaker of the House, Betty Boothroyd.

Tickets are £6.00 on the door.

For further details, contact Maria Billington – tel (01723) 350545.