East Grinstead, West Sussex -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/05/2010 -- On Sunday evening, October 17th, the annual Gala Charity Concert was staged at Saint Hill, home of L. Ron Hubbard and headquarters for the Church of Scientology UK. The charities chosen to benefit from this year’s concert were the East Grinstead Museum, the Mayor of Crowborough's Charity, and the British Engineerium Trust.

Around 1,500 were in attendance, including Mayors, District Council Chairmen, Town Councillors, and community leaders from all over the South of England. In addition, guests flew in specially from all over Europe and as far away as the United States.

The evening’s entertainment covered a wide spectrum of music - from the legendary Kenny Ball accompanied by the number one swing jazz band The Jive Aces to the Caribbean's premier female vocalist Michele Henderson; and from award-winning Gospel singer Jesse Stevenson and rapper Chill E.B., to the Italian Queen of Jazz Elena Roggero and drummer Woody Woodmansey (best known for his years with David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars). The Academy Award-nominated Hollywood actress Anne Archer hosted the evening and presented the official cheques on stage to the representatives of each of the local charities including the Mayor of East Grinstead Cllr Stephen Barnett and the Mayor of Crowborough Cllr Mrs Kay Moss.

Now in its 14th year, the Saint Hill Gala Charity Concert has supported numerous charities, such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, the RSPCA , the National Drug Prevention Alliance and the Bluebell Railway Trust. The concert follows the tradition that was started by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1960’s when he resided at Saint Hill Manor and supported many of the local charities.

The Gala Concert concluded a three-day jam-packed weekend of activities at the Church of Scientology with over 7,000 people from around the world. The weekend is an annual staging of conferences and seminars for parishioners and community leaders alike, encompassing the Church of Scientology’s social betterment programmes in the areas of human rights, drug education, common sense morals, and the volunteer ministry.

Press & Media Contact:
Graeme Wilson
Church of Scientology UK
Saint Hill Manor
East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 4JY UK
+44 (0)1342 318229
press@scientology.org.uk
http://www.scientology.org.uk