A world-renowned pianist is to stage a fundraising concert to help protect a valuable Totnes church window from vandal attacks.
Last year, the Paige Adams window in St Mary’s Church, Totnes, was repaired following years of damage caused by stones and other objects being hurled at it.
The church is now raising the cash needed to put up special screens to protect the 115-year-old stained-glass window from being damaged again.
Veronika Shoot, who grew up in Dartington and has earned a worldwide reputation for her piano playing, will be performing in the town centre church on Saturday, February 10, at 2pm.
She will be joined by fellow pianist Sasha Grynyuk for a four-handed piano recital, which will include works by Rachmaninov and Schubert.
The Paige Adams window next to the main church entrance was sponsored by local philanthropist Sidney Paige Adams in memory of his parents.
Mr Paige Adams later set up a trust to support the town’s ratepayers as part of his will, which still exists today and is administered by Totnes town councillors.
The church has already shelled out more than £2,000 repairing the stained-glass window after many of the small panes had been cracked due to stone-throwing attacks over the years.
Special grills have been installed across other windows in the church, but the Paige Adams window is still vulnerable to more attacks.
The church reckons it will cost around £3,000 to fit a guard to the large window.
The recital has been organised by the Friends of St Mary’s and will be supported by town mayor Rosie Adams.
When Veronika was still a child she was being hailed by Yehudi Menuhin as destined to become a great pianist.
Her debut recital took place at the age of seven at the Dartington Hall International Summer School, where her father was composer-in-residence.
She has performed extensively in the UK as well as across the globe.
Tickets are available at the Creative Crafts & Needlework shop, directly opposite St Mary’s Church in Totnes High Street, between 9.15am and 5.15pm Monday to Saturday.