Brindley Sherratt (credit: Gerard Collett)

Opera singer Brindley Sherratt has announced a special concert in aid of the Meath Epilepsy Charity, featuring a host of world-renowned singers at The Grange in Hampshire on 15 June.

Despite just over half a million people in the UK currently living with epilepsy, there is persisting ignorance and misconceptions surrounding the condition: a neurological disorder marked by sudden and recurrent seizures associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It affects everyone differently and requires a range of support and care.

The Meath provides this support for 80 adults. Nestled behind Godalming train station on 12 acres of land, the Meath is a specialist residential care home for adults with epilepsy and related disabilities. One resident is Amy Sherratt, Brindley’s daughter, who has complex epilepsy, learning disabilities and a rare metabolic disorder. Brindley Sherratt came across the Meath 12 years ago saying: ‘It was a bit of a pipe dream for us because until that point we had been Amy’s full-time carers. The Meath completely changed our lives.’

He continues, ‘Amy’s complex epilepsy means she has specific demands and needs but she’s also someone who is very vivacious, very outgoing, very artistic, with lots of energy. And it can be a difficult thing having a young adult with epilepsy living with you; you want to help, but in other ways you want to stand back and let them grow and be independent.’

Amy’s day-to-day life has been transformed, with the Meath offering a packed schedule of activities such as art classes, yoga, drama and choir. Sherratt says: ‘Whatever your limitations are, physical or mental, they help you live your best life. It’s an amazing community with a really positive atmosphere and Amy has made lifelong friends.

‘While epilepsy prevents the residents from functioning independently, they are as intelligent or inquisitive or artistically gifted as anybody else.’

This is not the first time that Sherratt has encouraged the opera world to raise money for the cause close to his heart. In 2021 there was an event at Glyndebourne, which raised £300,00 for the Meath.

He explains: ‘The Glyndebourne gala came about because the Meath sent out a booklet which was a wish list of things they needed, ranging from a toaster to a TV to a people carrier. At first, I just thought we should buy a TV, but my wife said: “Why don’t you put on a concert, you idiot, and raise some proper money?!” So I started chatting to some friends, and then approached Gus at Glyndebourne with the idea. We had a fantastic time. I gave the singers free reign to sing whatever they wanted. The first half saw a lot of popular arias and the second half was anything they liked. John Tomlinson, Nicky Spence and I sang ‘Three little maids from school’ – it was that level of silliness.’

The event at the Grange promises to be a similar evening of light-hearted entertainment. ‘The audience will be about 60 per cent opera-goers and 40 per cent first-time opera-goers. Chris Addison is MCing again, which is amazing, because not only is he incredibly gifted and funny, but he is also really passionate about opera. He’s perfect guy for it and he was great at Glyndebourne and said he’d kill to do it again.’

Sherratt also stresses the desire to connect with the audience. There won’t be an orchestra, just a pianist, because he wanted it ‘to be like we were in someone’s front room just singing to them. I want it to be funny as well, and I’m going to encourage the singers to talk to the audience. I really want to bridge what is usually a huge gap between us on stage and the audience.’

A special treat is also the Meath Choir taking part in the evening’s programme. ‘They do weekly rehearsals and local concerts, enhanced by the Guildford and Godalming Jazz Choir. The residents absolutely love it and it’s very moving. This year we’re going to have them on stage with us singing, which will be an incredible thing.’

The importance of music at the Meath cannot be understated. Part of the money raised at the Glyndebourne gala went towards funding music therapy at the care home, as well as other essentials such as repairing the roof and renovations to the main house. There are similar fundraising aims this year with Sherratt sharing that they wish to continue contributing towards regular music therapy.

‘We also would love to develop a nature trail around the house. The Meath is set on 12 acres of land but quite a lot of it is woodland, which is hard to access and a bit rocky and hilly. My daughter Amy is passionate about birds and wildlife, so we would love to use some of the money raised to create a path through the woods, one that wheelchairs can use.’

The money raised from the concert can truly enhance the lives of the residents at the Meath. But it will also be an incredible evening of operatic talent with performances from Louise Alder, Wynne Evans, Gerald Finley, David Junghoon Kim, Alexandra Oomens, Sally Matthews, Huw Montague Rendall, Christine Rice, Nicky Spence, Sir John Tomlinson and Catherine Wyn-Rogers.

When asked about the star-studded appearances Sherratt admits he is incredibly moved by such great singers and friends wanting to be there. ‘It’s not just random singers we’ve picked. They’re people who know us as a family. I’m looking forward to us all being in one place again, just singing and having fun.

‘My job is pretty demanding; I’m away seven months of the year. So, there were times when I thought, “Do I really want to organise another one?”

‘But when you go and spend time at the Meath, and you see the residents and the kinds of things they could have to enhance their lives – if we can help provide some of that just by singing some songs, it’s all worth it.’

Brindley Sherratt hosts a gala concert for the Meath Epilepsy Charity on 15 June. Thegrangefestival.co.uk

This featured originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Opera Now – Subscribe today!