THE Green Man Folk Club and Holybourne Theatre have partnered for the last seven years on a series of concerts featuring global and local folk bands.

But now, having run the folk club for 17 years, Alan and Lesley Wilkins are taking a well-deserved retirement and decided to donate the club’s surplus funds to Holybourne Theatre.

Alan and Lesley, along with co-organisers Pete Stephens and Barbara Parry, joined one of the theatre’s pantomime rehearsals to thank the group for all its support over the years and present a £1,100 donation towards the upcoming theatre extension.

John Priddle, theatre chairman, accepted the cheque and thanked the Green Man team for bringing some “incredible talent” to their stage.

The concerts have been well attended and Holybourne Theatre plan to continue with some folk nights, with assistance from Mr Stephens.

The first of these will feature Ray Copper next month.

Treasure Island the pantomime will run from to open from Saturday, January 26, to Saturday, February 9, at Holybourne Theatre.

For tickets, visit holybournetheatre.co.uk or Wildly Upbeat Printers.