Paul Brolly and Gemma Quinn showing their support on stage	Celtic Feet entertaining the crowds
Ray and Pat Vaughan presenting Bob with £23,000	Michael English supporting Brolly's concert, has a new album planned for release later this year

FOR the 9th year running Bob Brolly has donated his time and effort into putting together a concert in aid of a charity or medical research. The chosen cause this year was diabetes research.
An excellent line up of acts, all of outstanding quality, entertained the some 2200 plus crowd on the 18h of June in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
The Birmingham Irish Pipes and Drums welcomed the concert-goers by playing for 30 minutes outside of the Symphony Hall and then
they opened the show. Bob followed the Birmingham Irish Pipes and Drums singing
the ‘Great Pretender’ and welcomed everybody in his usual warm and entertaining style!
The performers throughout the evening were; Bob Brolly, Irene and Tom, Celtic Feet. Michael O’Hare, The Father Teds, Jerry Lynch and his daughter Kathleen, Fergal Flaherty, Majella O’Donnell, Tommy Fleming and Michael English.
All the performers donated the fees for their appearance, to diabetes research and they put on a wonderful show, captivating the audience from start to finish.
The surprise of the evening was Mr Billy Martin, a good friend of Bob’s, who was in Tenerife with Bob and friends recently. Whilst in the Canary Islands he talked to Bob about the up and coming concert. He asked Bob what it was like to stand on the stage of the Symphony Hall and sing to such a vast crowd, as it was a dream of his own. Much to his surprise, Bob called Billy on to the stage to sing ‘fraulein’. This was Bob’s way of saying thank you to Billy for all of his help and support over the years. Billy sang beautifully.
The Compares for the concert were Brendan Mulvey and Ed Doolan with Bob himself introducing some acts as well as performing.
Raymond and Patricia Vaughan from Vaughan’s private members club on the Stratford Rd, Hallgreen pledged to double all the money raised in Vaughan’s club. They both proudly presented Bob with the sum of £23,000.
Two very special guests were; wheelchair bound Mr Paul Brolly and Miss Gemma Quinn. They made an appearance on stage proving that even through their own disability they were helping others by participating in the concert for diabetes.
Dr Jonathan Webber, a Consultant Diabetologist at Selly Oak Hospital discussed diabetes and explained that one in every ten people in Britain are likely to suffer from the condition and at least one in five would know some one that had it. That fact alone means 245,000 people in the Midlands are diabetic. Diabetes shortens life expectancy and can lead to complications such as; blindness, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and amputations being required.
The common symptoms are increased thirst, extreme tiredness, weight loss, blurred vision, repeated bouts of thrush, genital itching and excessive urination. If you have any concerns about diabetes please see your G.P. For further information you can visit the website: www.diabetes.org.uk/home.htm.