A SPECIAL evening of song for charity in Helensburgh united international voices earlier this month.

Helensburgh Parish Church hosted a Friendship Choir Concert in support of Alzheimer Scotland on Sunday, October 6.

The event featured music from Scotland and Sweden, reuniting the Helensburgh Family Singers with Swedish Choir Sollerökören, who made a welcome return to the town after six years.

They played a variety of pieces that each choir took weeks to prepare and later joined together to sing a piece specially written for them last year by Derek Clark.

David Bruce, a former conductor of Helensburgh Family Singers, said: "It was unlikely, verging on the improbable.

"A choir from a village on an island in a lake in western Sweden came to Helensburgh in 2009 and, in doing so, set off a chain of events and generated happiness that no-one could have anticipated.

"Sollerökören had an idea that it would be nice to sing in Scotland. One of their members, Karin Kent, had a brother, Tony, who lived in Helensburgh and so the connection was made.

"This bond of friendship through song between both choirs has triggered an extraordinary series of musical and geographical adventures which continue to this day."

The friendship between the two choirs sparked a return visit to Sweden in 2010 and an expedition to Transylvania in 2013, and as the choir expanded on their tours it became known as the Helensburgh Family Singers.

During the concert, ‘Vänskap’, a Swedish equivalent of ‘Auld Lang Syne’, was played as it had been the signature anthem of the choirs' partnership.

The evening of music and song proved to be huge success for all as they raised £1,221.85 for the charity.

Helensburgh Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre manager Anne-Marie King said: "I would also like to say a huge thank you to organiser Tony Kent and everyone who worked so hard to create a wonderful evening of music and song.

"The amount raised is absolutely phenomenal, and we are very grateful to everyone who gave so generously on the night. 

"Every penny that has been raised will make a real difference to people living with dementia and will help us to ensure that nobody faces dementia alone."

Britt-Inger Nilsson, the cantor from Sollerön, added: "The collaboration between Scotland and Sweden has indeed increased the understanding of other people from different countries.

"We have had the joy of meeting new traditions, so far from us, both in distance and in life’s ways, but yet so close to our hearts.

"Even when the language becomes a challenge, the songs will keep us together."