Express & Star

Billy's fundraising is music to the ears

Black Country musicians perform on a new album created to help save a church's stained-glass window remembering the fallen from the First World War.

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Poet, author and broadcaster Billy Spake Mon has brought the project together ahead of hosting a fundraising concert for the project.

He hopes to be able to raise money through the CD and show towards the relocation of the window from St Michael and All Angels Church, in Langley Green.

It had been installed at the church, in Causeway Green Road, in 1921 but had to be removed when the church, which had been closed since 2006, was sold and redeveloped.

But now campaigners are hopping to raise more than £10,000 towards moving the window to the nearby Zion United Reformed Church.

Billy, real name Brian Dakin, asked musicians to get involved through his Omma n (COR) Chain Show on Black Country Community Radio.

"It is a good local cause and we just hope that people can buy the CD and come to the show to help support it," he said.

"It is great to get everyone together for the show."

His latest project is called Billy's Bostas featuring a host of Black Country performers including Bev Pegg and John Langford.

To celebrate the CDs launch there will be a concert taking place at the Zion Church Hall, in Langley Green Road, Langley, on February 7.

The show, which starts at 7.30pm will bring together performers from all over the Black Country including John Langford and Bren Hawthorne, Wednesbury's Poet Laureate.

CDs cost £5 including postage and packaging and tickets for the show are £5.

All proceeds from Bostas will go to the Langley Memorial Fund to relocate the stained glass windows.

CDs and ticket bookings can be made with Billy by email on b.dakin@aston.ac.uk or write to him at 19 Hawfield Road, Tividale, B69 1LG.

Donations can be made on the door on the night.

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