A CONCERT to celebrate the life and music of the late York-born composer John Barry is a sell-out – and now looks set to raise about £10,000 for the Lord Mayor’s charities.

Organisers of the tribute concert at York Barbican on Sunday, October 30, say they are “absolutely delighted” at the response from the York public to the event.

Graham Bradbury, spokesman for the Lord Mayor’s Fundraising Committee, said: “The speed with which the tickets sold out has surpassed all our expectations and it just goes to show how much the people of York respect and admire the work of John Barry and his musical legacy.”

He revealed that people from as far away as Canada and Sweden had made arrangements to attend the concert.

“All of the performers, over 200, have a connection with York, and with an audience of 1,400, we hope it will be a memorable tribute.” He said funds raised from the concert would be divided between the Lord Mayor’s charities, York Against Cancer and York and District Mind.

Exact figures would not be known until all the outgoing costs had been finalised but he expected that in the region of £10,000 could to be shared across the two charities.

The concert wiil take place just a short distance from the former Rialto, now the Mecca Bingo Hall, where the Oscar-winning composer started his career. Performers will include York Guildhall Orchestra, York Railway Institute Band, the Steve Cassidy Band and singer Jo Pears.

The Lord Mayor, David Horton, said earlier this year that members of the Barry family, both in York and New York, had given the venture their blessing and support.

Mr Barry, who died of a heart attack in January, aged 77, was one of York’s most successful sons and was made an Honorary Freeman of the city in 2002.