Report on our visit to Eastbourne 21st/22nd July 2012

A good crowd, drawn from far and wide, greeted the South London Fellowship Band for the commencement of its weekend visit to Eastbourne Citadel.  Items included ‘Southern Australia’, ‘Happiness and Harmony’, ‘A Glenn Miller Collection’, ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’ and a very moving presentation of ‘Resurgam’. Guest Cornet soloist, Carl Neilson, displayed fine artistry in presenting ‘Grandfather’s Clock’ and, after being joined by Darrell Scholes in ‘Quicksilver’, they were in turn joined by Carl’s 11 year old son, Thomas, in ‘The Veterans’. Soloists from the band – Adrian Horwood (Euphonium), ‘Song of the Brother’ and Leslie Swift (Vocal), ‘You Raise Me Up’ were also featured as was the Trombone section with ‘Over the Rainbow’. Bram Chestney introduced the bible theme for the weekend based on the life of Jonah.

This theme was continued on Sunday in well attended meetings led by the band. The playing of ‘His Provision’ in the morning and ‘Just As I Am’ in the evening brought great blessing during the Sunday meetings. The band joined the local corps in its usual Summer Sunday Morning open air ministry in front of the pier which attracted a large number of listeners. In the afternoon the band presented a short concert on the promenade with a varied programme which included music from the shows ‘Oliver’ and ‘Cats’ as well as more traditional ‘Army’ items, including the cornet trio ‘Cheer Up’, finishing with the March ‘In The King’s Service’. Again this attracted a large audience. The band then presented a short programme of music at the Citadel which included ‘Hadleigh Camp’ and ‘Songs of the Morning’. The band’s principal cornet, Alan Moyse, presented the solo ‘A Happy Day’ and the Trombone section contributed ‘I Will Follow Him’. During the morning meeting Stuart Gilbert expanded on the weekend’s bible theme of Jonah after Phil Edwards had presented a children’s story on the same theme.  In the evening Roger Gadsden brought the story to a conclusion. Report by Don Middleton

Saturday Evening

Sunday