TSUNAMI APPEAL: THE Advertiser's tsunami appeal has raised nearly £7,000.

A cheque for £6,860 is now winging its way to the Disaster Emergency Committee, the umbrella organisation which co-ordinates the British response to major disasters around the world.

The total was raised through a concert, auction, a special supplement and individual donations.

Our gig at the Goddard Arms Hotel, for which the cream of local bands gave their time and talents for free, was a sell-out.

We also produced a special advertising supplement and a donated all the revenue to the appeal.

And our tsunami auction brought in hundreds of pounds with readers bidding for celebrity items such as a signed photo of Robbie Williams and a designer dress worn by Swindon's own Melinda Messenger.

We also received a number of donations, including one for £500 raised by a 'cash-in-the-attic' event held by Mollie Tanner, of the Tanwood School for Performing Arts in Swin-don.

Roly Gillard, who compered the Adver gig, was astonished when he heard how much had been raised.

He said: "That's incredible. I'm very pleasantly surprised at the generosity of the people in Swindon.

"I thought it was a great night.

"I was so impressed with all the performers.

"They got on and did their bit in such a professional way, and there was such a wonderful party atmosphere.

"The people at Goddards were incredibly helpful and co-operative and the sound crew did a wonderful job.

"But because the problem is not going to go away I hope that people will continue to support those in need and are affected by the tsunami.

"I think it was a wave that changed the world."

Rob Beckinsale, who was one of the performers at the concert, said: "It was really good.

"It was great the way everybody pulled together, especially as it all happened so quickly.

"Initially I was asked if we could lend our gear but I didn't think it was good enough for such a big room, so in the end I just ended up playing with my band.

"I phoned around to see who was available so my band was made up almost on the night.

"But everybody was keen to help and make themselves available and there was no problem getting them together.

"It was a good night and everybody was up for having a party.

"From a logistics point of view it was great that they got all the bands on and off in time and everybody had a reasonable sound.

"It is normally a logistical nightmare having so many acts in a short space of time."

David Andrew