The Big Busk raises more than £6,000 for Shrewsbury Ark

Delighted organisers today said a big “Thank you” to everybody who donated during the two-day Easter weekend event and to all of the artists who gave their time and talent for free, and the venues which hosted Big Busk events.

The money raised will go to Shrewsbury Ark, a centre for homeless and vulnerable people in the town, which relies almost entirely on charitable donations for its running. It costs £120,000-a-year to keep the Ark running.

The Big Busk, now in its third year, is held in memory of talented musician, poet and artist Ben Bebbington, who was killed in 2012 in an unprovoked attack.

Shrewsbury Ark helped Ben during his life and was very dear to his heart.

Ben’s sister Karen Higgins, one of the organisers of the Big Busk, said: “We are overwhelmed that the generosity of so many people has raised such an incredible total for Shrewsbury Ark.

“We cannot thank everyone who donated, or everyone who performed or hosted performances, enough.

“So many incredibly talented people gifted their time to us to create a wonderful weekend and to raise more than £6,000 is the icing on the cake.”

Highlights of this year’s event included the Big Sing, which saw musicians lead shoppers and visitors in a mass sing-along on Pride Hill on the Saturday, and a performance on the roof of St Chad’s Church by Paul Henshaw and the Scientific Simpletons on the Sunday.

A version of the song Alone in the Crowd, recorded by Ben before he died, was performed by Paul Henshaw and his wife Nikki, with Ben’s recorded voice, inside St Chad’s on Sunday afternoon.

Plans are now being made to release the song as a single, with all proceeds going to Shrewsbury Ark.

Karen has also confirmed that the Big Busk will return in 2016.