Letter: Ravi Shankar saved our playground

In 1969 I was chair of the Handsworth Adventure Playground in Birmingham which drew in black children in an area of racial tension. We faced deep financial problems and, by chance, Vanessa Redgrave read about our situation. She came to Handsworth and was impressed by the playground and the local residents who helped to run it. Hearing we might close, she declared that she would raise big money by filling the Royal Albert Hall in London. I thought she was crazy but she persuaded Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin to play. Both had previously performed at the United Nations event for human rights but were also ready to support our tiny charity. The hall was nearly full. Ravi played his sitar, chatted to the audience and lost track of time – he had to rush away for a plane before he could speak with us. Thanks to Ravi, the playground was saved.