The CD launch dates and venues are finally fixed – so everything’s looking good. All we have to do is sell a few more CD/booklets so we can cover costs and give a donation to the Justice & Peace charity. The contributing artists have done well, playing magnificently on the recording sessions and then buying and helping to sell CDs – but now we need to reach out to the public.

The problems faced by refugees will not be going away any time soon unfortunately – nor will media coverage which is often negative and emotive. My point of view is simply that we, in wealthier and more stable countries, should be helping people fleeing war, famine and social upheaval which, in most cases, is not of their making. As I have discovered, the refugees are just human beings like us who want to live in peace. Who can blame them seeking sanctuary here and in other European countries?

At the same time our government should be doing all it can to solve the political causes of the problems, in as peaceful a way as is possible. Simplistic, maybe, and the situation is vastly complex and will no doubt become worse before it gets better. In the meantime we should not demonise the victims, nor erect barbed wire fences (real and metaphorical) which will solve nothing.

In the meantime, we musicians, along with other good hearted folk, can do our bit to support a great local charity that is offering practical assistance to men, women and children in dire need.