A MUSIC charity has raised thousands of pounds in memory of an acclaimed opera singer on its launch night event.

Widow Philippa Poulton founded The Robert Poulton Foundation after her husband was killed in a car crash near their Heathfield home in October 2012.

A score of distinguished opera singers – including Wynne Evans, the face of Go Compare – gathered to mark the launch and remember the baritone, who had sung with the English National Opera and was a regular soloist at Glyndebourne.

In total more than £10,000 was raised from the event.

Mrs Poulton said she hoped the charity would “change lives”.

The two main objectives for the foundation are: to fund the Robert Poulton Community Choir, which will launch at St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne in January 2015, and to fund the Robert Poulton Foundation Primary Schools project, which will bring singing into primary schools via specialist vocal teachers.

Mrs Poulton said: “We hope the charity will change lives through music. I am extremely grateful to have the support of so many people in this project.”

Musicians Rebecca Evans, Susan Beckley, Louise Crane, Kathryn Harries, Yvonne Howard, Lucy Schaefer, Wynne Evans, Chris Gillett, John Graham Hall, Adrian Thompson, Ian Betsey, Robert Hayward, Bindley Serrate and the Trinity Boys Choir performed works including La Travolta and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music.

Former colleagues told comic anecdotes of how they best remembered Mr Poulton, and an auction of prizes including luxury holidays and singing lessons raised nearly £2,000 alone.

The charity is planning to appoint a musical director, to launch a community choir at St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Eastbourne, in January and also an education project in September.

Visit robertpoultonfoundation.org.uk.