Classics Galore! as featured in the media:


Interview on BBC Spotlight - 01/11/2011 - link coming soon
Interview on Exeter FM - October 2011

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Tickets Selling Out Fast For “The Concert Of The Year”
Express & Echo 2011

Tickets for the Classics Galore! concert to be staged at Exeter University’s Great Hall on Saturday 12th November at 7.30pm, have been selling like hot cakes over the past few weeks and with a little over three weeks to go before the big night, less than 300 are available before the concert becomes a total sell-out. The concert is being held in aid of the Exeter-based cancer charity FORCE.

The previous two Classics Galore! concerts held in 2007 and 2009 raised over £20,000 for FORCE and were the brainchild of Dick Passmore who chose FORCE as the recipient of the proceeds from the concerts, as he himself has contracted cancer on three separate occasions in the past and is currently undergoing further sessions of specialist treatment following recent surgery. This year’s concert will, however, be the final one he will organise as he has decided to call it a day following his latest bout of ill health.

Classics Galore! is an evening of virtually non-stop popular classical music and song performed by the Exeter Symphony Orchestra, the Lympstone SW Telecoms Brass Band, the Ottery Choral Society, the chorus of St. David’s Players and soloist Penny Daw. Over 230 musicians and singers will perform on a specially enlarged stage throughout the concert which was a smash hit in 2009 with a sell-out audience of over 1200 people.

This year’s event will include classic concert pieces including Vivaldi’s Gloria in Excelsis Deo, Handel’s Halleluja Chorus, Carnaval Romain by Berlioz and Wilhousky’s dramatic arrangement of Battle Hymn of the Republic. The evening will be brought to a rousing “Last Night of the Proms” style finale featuring all the performers and the audience as they play and sing Jerusalem, Rule,Britannia and Pomp and Circumstance No.1.
Undaunted by his current circumstances, Dick is determined to continue to mastermind this year’s concert and he said today “I am only too well aware of the tremendous amount of work that FORCE does on behalf of sufferers and their families and whilst the past few years have not been easy, organising the concerts has helped me to focus on the positive aspects of my life. However, I feel the time has now come when I should put the baton away and concentrate totally on the future. Maybe someone else will pick-up the baton and run with it. I sincerely hope so.”

Tickets for Classics Galore! may be obtained by calling Exeter Visitor Information & Tickets on 01392 665885 or Dick Passmore on 01392 832405. Tickets will also be on sale at The Great Hall on the night. Further details of the concert can be found at www.classicsgalore.co.uk

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Force concert banner theft is 'heartless'
Express & Echo 29th October 2009

THE theft of a banner advertising a cancer charity's fundraising concert has been branded heartless.
The 10ft long banner went missing from outside the Force cancer centre in Barrack Road, Exeter.

It promoted the Classics Galore concert at Exeter University's Great Hall on Saturday, November 14.
Force said the theft was cruel and heartless because the centre will benefit from money raised by the concert.
Classics Galore is the brainchild of concert director Dick Passmore who is suffering from cancer.

Mr Passmore, who is currently undergoing specialist treatment following surgery, said: "I simply cannot believe that anyone with even the smallest modicum of intelligence would steal a banner which is promoting a concert in aid of cancer patients and their families.

"Whoever stole the banner must have no conscience whatsoever and the act is yet another sad reflection on the society in which we live."
Organisers said concert tickets were selling fast but there were about 300 left. Contact Exeter Tickets on 01392 211080 or Mr Passmore on 01392 832405.

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Classics Galore at Exeter Autumn Festival
Exmouth Journal 08 October 2009

CLASSICS GALORE! on November 14, when the Exeter Autumn Festival will once again include the Classics Galore! concert at the Great Hall of Exeter University.

Classics Galore! is the brainchild of Dick Passmore, and is based on visits Dick and his wife Rosemary have made to see the annual Classical Spectacular at London's Royal Albert Hall. The evening is a musical feast of popular classics that everyone will know - even if not by name or composer. Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Sousa's Stars and Stripes, The Anvil Chorus from Verdi's Il Trovatore, the overture from The Marriage of Figaro, the Waltz from Shostakovich's Jazz Suite, The Dam Busters March, and Elgar's beautiful Nimrod from his Enigma Variations, together with other well-known pieces, will all come to a climax with the ever-popular "Proms" style finale - Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.

The Exeter Symphony Orchestra, the SW Telecoms Lympstone Brass Band, the Exmouth Choral Society, and The Ottery Choral Society - around 220 musicians all on stage at the same time - combine to make this a really memorable evening, and Exeter's biggest indoor concert! Ticket prices are kept as low as possible, and the Gallery at Great Hall has already sold out! However, there are still almost 900 seats to fill in the auditorium, and these are only £12 each. They are available from organisers, Dick and Rosemary Passmore, via email at

classics@classicsgalore.co.uk, or on (01392) 832405. Alternatively they can be purchased at Exeter Tickets (01392 211080) in Dix's Field, Exeter. Further details can be found on the website www.classicsgalore.co.uk

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Despite the return of cancer, Dick vows to raise cash for Force
Express & Echo 21st September 2009

WHEN Dick Passmore, 68, beat bowel cancer eight years ago he vowed he would raise money for Force cancer charity. And so he did, £6,500 to be precise, by holding classical music concert Classics Galore, in the University of Exeter's Great Hall, in 2007.

Early this year Dick, a retired police officer, was told that the bowel cancer had returned, but it has not put him off organising his next charity concert.

"Everything had healed nicely, so it was quite unusual for the cancer to return eight years later," said Dick, who lives in Little Silver, near Exeter, with his wife, Rosemary, 62. "But it has made me more determined to beat the thing and organising the concert has given me something positive to focus on."

Until the diagnosis, Dick was otherwise enjoying his retirement. He is a keen local historian and enjoys gardening. He has a son, Steve, 39, who lives nearby, and three grandchildren, Sam, 13, Harry, 10, and three-year-old Thea.

Dick found Force to be a great help during his cancer treatment both eight years ago and now. He said: "The Force centre is excellently located on the outskirts of the hospital grounds.

"Its staff offer you a tremendous amount of support and advice. You can go and have a massage or reflexology free of charge.

"Its services are available to carers and family as well — everybody affected by cancer.

"Money raised for Force also goes towards medical equipment in the oncology department as well."
It costs almost £300,000 a year to keep the Force patient centre running, so any fundraising for the charity is greatly appreciated.
Common bowel cancer symptoms include bleeding from the back passage without a reason, a persistent change in your bowel habit towards looser or more frequent bowel motions, bloating, swelling, pain or an unexplained lump in the tummy and tiredness or feeling pale.

"Often people mistake the symptoms for haemorrhoids and are too embarrassed to go and see their GP," explained Dick. "But it is always worth going to get it check out anyway."

Bowel cancer is diagnosed by physical examination, probes and a colonoscopy.

Having had an operation to have a section of his colon removed, Dick is currently undergoing treatment for his bowel cancer.

"At the moment I am having radiotherapy and chemotherapy," he said. "The treatment will go on for another six months."
In the eight years since Dick last underwent treatment he has seen a huge improvement in the methods used. He said: "I have seen a huge change in the way chemo is administered.

"I used to have it injected, but this time round I have had tablets, which means that the side affects are not so intense."

Dick is hoping to raise even more money at this year's concert. He said: "We know its not financially easy at the moment because so many businesses are in recession, but it would be great to make £8,000."
"There will be popular concert music a proms-style finale. Everyone will enjoy it. We are still looking for sponsors for the event, and urge people to get in touch."

Classics Galore returns to the Great Hall on Saturday, November 14. Tickets cost £12,with concessions available. Details: 01392 832405 or visit www.classicsgalore.co.uk.

For more information abut cancer, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.