ONE of the UK's leading close harmony groups will be hitting the perfect note for the Chestnut Appeal for prostate cancer as part of a night of musical entertainment at Plymouth's Guildhall on Friday, October 12 at 7pm.

The Kingsmen - from Kingsbridge and regularly in the top ten of British popular singing groups – will be supported by special guests Panache, a ladies close harmony chorus also from the South Hams at the event, which has been organised by a group of prostate cancer patients.

Led by Admiral Sir Jonathan Tod, a sufferer himself, as well as a trustee of the appeal, they wanted to stage an event that would both raise money for the charity and awareness of a disease, which claims the life of one man every hour in the UK.

Sir Jonathan said that originally the concert was to be held in the Lower Guildhall, but with 70 great singers on show he was delighted when organisers were offered an upgrade to the larger Guildhall venue.

'We now have a wonderful setting for a really fun evening and the perfect venue for the scale of the performances,' said Sir Jonathan.

'We look forward to welcoming a large audience on the night, who can help the performers really raise the roof too, as there will be an opportunity for everyone to singalong when we round off the show.'

Now 55 singers strong, the Kingsmen harmony chorus was originally formed in 1991 when Roy Hann put an advert in his local newspaper asking for interested singers to help him form a barbershop singing group - and he was delighted when 12 men turned up at a local pub to join.

As well as performing across the South Hams at a variety of venues, The Kingsmen have also embarked on two US tours and a number of festival appearances both here and abroad, raising more than £70,000 for local and national charities in the process.

Tickets for the concert are priced at £10, which includes a glass of wine or juice in the intermission.

For tickets and further information contact The Chestnut Appeal at Derriford Hospital on 01752 792736 or email chestnut.events@ nhs.net.