OVER £1,500 was raised for service charities at a Yate Rotary Club event commemorating World War One.


The club held the fund-raiser evening on Saturday, November 8 in aid of service charities Help for Heroes and Combat Stress, the veteran's mental health charity.


Around 100 people attended the event, in Iron Acton Village hall, to enjoy live music, video clips of World War One and a war-time meal.


Singing trio the Dixie Belles performed to the audience and music from the 1900 era was also played during the meal, of beef stew followed by fruit jelly trifle and evaporated milk, served by the Rotarians.
A raffle was drawn for prizes donated by Waitrose and The Brimsham Park pub and others and the evening ended with a war-time sing along led by Rotary members of the U3A folk choir.


Yate Rotary Club publicity officer, David Picton, said: “This successful evening raised over £1,500 when proceeds from the bar were added. "This money has been split equally between the Help for Heroes and Combat Stress charities.


"The evening went off very well, the Dixie Belles are a talented trio of local young ladies who harmonise well in the Andrew Sisters mould. They sang some songs from the WW1 era and also many from the 1940/50s.


"A few people came dressed in costumes from the period and in Uniform and the atmosphere was very warm and comfortable for the audience and the bar, run by club members, served beer, wine and soft drinks. We received many compliments from the audience at the end of the evening.

"Overall the Rotary Club rated it as a very successful event."


Yate Rotary Club is running their annual Quiz Night for charity on Thursday, February 12 at the Yate International Academy.


For information call David Picton on 01454 327851 or visit www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs.