7:30am Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Rebecca Cain
TOP selling female singer Katie Melua wowed audiences at the Royal Air Force High Wycombe camp based in Walters Ash.
The 25-year-old performer, well known for her songs Nine Million Bicycles and Closest Thing to Crazy, sang at the charity dinner and dance evening on Thursday to two hundred guests.
She said: “It’s an absolute honour to be performing tonight and supporting the RAF Benevolent Fund, “I consider the work they do to be really important, it’s so amazing to look after people who give so much of themselves for the country. I’m really proud to be here this evening.”
Melua has performed all over the world including playing a gig at the bottom of the North Sea for gas rig workers in 2006.
She added: “It’s a pleasure to be here at this wonderful event and have the chance to sing. After performing at the bottom of the sea I shall also, for its uniqueness, remember singing at the Officers’ Mess.”
Squadron Leader Mark ‘Sparky’ Dunlop said: “To hear such fantastic music from such a world renowned singer and to have the opportunity to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, which is a charity close to my heart is fantastic.”
Composer Mike Batt also sang Art Garfunkel’s Bright Eyes which he produced, composed and conducted for Watership Down.
The evening raised over £19,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Paul Hewson, a regional director for the charity, said: ‘The tremendous amount raised through the dinner dance at RAF High Wycombe is a fantastic boost to the vital fund raising activity that allows the Fund to continue this essential work.’
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