LAUNCESTON Town Hall was packed for a charity evening on Sunday, raising thousands of pounds for the Robert Johns Leukaemia Fund.

The ever popular and inimitable Johnny Cowling had the audience howling with laughter from the start and compered the evening, which was very much a celebration of all things Cornish on the eve of St Piran’s Day, named after the patron saint of tin miners.

The golden voices of ‘Twin Harmony’ — twin sisters Jenna and Morwenna Matthews from Penzance rang out, with songs from across their three albums as well as covers. They were also accompanied by their mother and father for some songs, the twins joking they are like the von Trapp family.

After the break, more hilarity ensued with Johnny, who brought two local men on stage to help with a rendition of ‘Going up Camborne Hill’. This was followed by Launceston based harmony, vocal and guitar band The Countrymen, a band formed thanks to open mic nights at the nearby Countryman Inn.

Their material ranges widely from traditional Cornish and new Cornish songs through country favourites to classic pop and even the occasional blues.

Like latter day cousin Jacks they are now touring and spreading the Cornish spirit.

They were warmly received by the crowd, and at the end of the evening all the acts gathered on stage and people were upstanding for the ‘Cornish national anthem’ — Trelawny.

Around £3,000 was raised on the night for the Robert Johns Leukaemia Fund (RJLF). Robert Johns passed away in 1983 after a long fought battle with leukaemia and his father, Bob Johns, from Week St Mary, set up the charity along with the other trustees Hazel Cartright and the late Roy Cobbledick.

As of January 24, 2018, the RJLF has raised £236,045.40.

For more information about the charity, visit www.rjlf.org.uk

The town hall was agreed to be given for use freely for the charity evening by town councillor Brian Hogan, when he was in office as town mayor.