Sell out crowd at Thom Belk Community Fund launch

Thursday, 15 August 2024 05:55

Signature Vision perform: All images JS Terry Photography

Around 390 people gathered at Salisbury Art Centre for the launch of the Thom Belk Community Fund.

The fund has been launched by the Rose Gale Trust following the death of Thom Belk, who died over the Christmas period at the end of last year.

Thom was well known locally on the music and sports scene, running the Salisbury Music Awards, hosting and promoting events and had strong connections to several football clubs, including Salisbury FC.

Alex Morgan-Wardrop

The fund set up in his name will provide grants to young people interested in pursuing performing arts of sports - details of how to apply will be released very soon.

Colin Holton from Salisbury Live said of the event, "It was a fantastic audience who were absolutely brilliant and supportive. There was a lot of love around!

"The lineup reflected Thom’s diversity in musical tastes with performances by gnarled old veteran punk rockers to the up-and-coming fantastic new young acts.

"Big thanks to the Arts Centre for their support in putting this event on and to their staff and tech crew, who are second to none.

"We must also say a huge thank you to BSM Stagetec for the fantastic production on the Altar stage, Aimee for the delicious Belko Burgers and, of course, the seven acts who performed."

Local acts including CarSick, Signature Vision, CLS and The Helmets performed across two stages to the sell-out crowd. A fund raising total from the event has yet to be announced.

Andy Belk, Thom's dad, told the Salisbury Journal that Thom would have been "blown away" by the evening, "From the family's point of view it was brilliant. It was just great to see so many people come out to support Thom.

"From a very early age Thom understood music to the point where he knew what it could do, where it could reach and how powerful it is. One thing it can do that politics and religion can't is bring people together."

You can see more of James Terry's photographs from the event here - https://jsterryphotography.co.uk/thom-belk-community-fund-launch-10082024

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