July 2008

ABERDEEN ACCOUNTANT ON SONG FOR CANCER CHARITY

A north-east financial planning expert has released an album of his favourite songs all in the name of charity.

Bill Saunders, head of financial planning at leading accountancy and financial services company Acumen Group, has spent his spare time in the studio recording an album of a dozen Irish folksongs to help raise money for CLAN, the Aberdeen-based, independent charity for those affected by cancer.

The album is called Twelve Irish Pub Anthems and includes classic songs such as Irish Rover and Fairytale of New York. Bill sings and plays all the instruments on the album, which he also produced at his home studio.

The album is on sale now and is available via his website. It is also available to download on iTunes. Twelve Irish Pub Anthems is the second album he has recorded and produced. In 2005 he released Time and Life, which raised £800 for Cancer Research UK. However, Bill is hoping to raise a lot more cash this year by giving the proceeds to CLAN.

Although Bill's Irish roots go no further than the odd pint of Guinness and perhaps a possible distant relative, his love of Irish music was born during a family holiday to County Kerry in 1993.

Bill explained, "At the time we had two very small children but we still managed to find our way into a number of local hostelries, in which without exception live music was being performed. Rushing home from the pub I taught myself the chords for Wild Rover there and then, and from that moment you could say I was hooked."

"Since then I have performed Irish sing songs at many gatherings of friends and family, and it family dawned on me that it would be a good idea to record some "full on" versions, the result of which is this album."

Bill added:"I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported me through the whole project. I am very proud of this album and hope people will enjoy it. All proceeds raised will go to CLAN to help people affected by cancer so it is a very worthy cause. I lost a close relative to cancer a few years back and although they weren't involved with CLAN as they lived down South, I can appreciate the work they do for people and how much it can help someone get through an ordeal such as cancer."

Bill is planning to play some unplugged gigs at the end of August at local bars throughout Aberdeen. The dates will be released on the website nearer the time.

Susan Crighton, fundraising manager of CLAN, said:"We are very grateful for Bill's hard work in raising money for CLAN. Acumen has always been fantastic at raising money for CLAN and helping to raise awareness."

The album is now on sale. You can buy it at www.billsaundersmusic.co.uk