Visits to Penge 10th November and Gravesend 27th October 2012

Penge

The weather for the evening was rather cold and damp but the visit of the South London Fellowship Band to St. John the Evangelist Church in Penge proved to be warm and inspiring. Under the leadership of Associate Conductor Darrell Scholes, the band, concluding its busy schedule of events for the year, started with Wilf Heaton’s rousing march ‘Praise’, and then into Paul Sharman’s mellow arrangement of ‘Flow gently, sweet Afton’, before the exciting ‘Overture to The Magic Flute’. Roger Gadsden, a member of St. John’s church and solo horn player in the Band, (who had arranged the event) then introduced the guests – cornet soloist 11 year old Thomas Nielsen, and compere Lieut-Colonel Peter Wood.

Tom demonstrated that he is already proving to be an exceptional young player of great promise in Percy Code’s caprice ‘Zelda’, before baritone player Stuart Gilbert presented the solo ‘My Story and Song’. Jim Wright’s ‘Fantasia for Children’ provided an amusing diversion followed by the Trombone Section who gave a smooth version of ‘Over the Rainbow’. The song ‘Love Changes Everything’ was sung movingly by bandsman Les Swift, and then the Band closed the first half of the programme in grand style with Edward Gregson’s ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’.

‘Spirit of Joy’ was the rousing march to commence the second half of the concert which was followed by the congregation joining in singing the hymn ‘Jerusalem’. In tribute to Remembrance weekend the band played ‘I vow to thee my country’, and then Tom Nielsen presented his second solo, Herbert Mountain’s ‘Hosanna’. The American folk tune ’Ashokan Farewell’ provided a gentle setting for the Bible Reading and comment by Lieut-Colonel Wood, who spoke on Matthew 11: 28-30. This was the context in which Tom then played Ivor Bosanko’s soulful arrangement of Major Joy Webb’s lovely song ‘Share my Yoke’. The final major item for the evening was Peter Graham’s ‘A London Celebration’ and, following the benediction, the band concluded with ‘How Great Thou Art’.

The evening concert had lived up to its title “Music for Everyone”. As with many of the Fellowship Band’s concerts admission for the evening was free, but a generous response to the charity appeal provided a donation of £419.88 in support of “Christians Against Poverty” run at the church.

Peter Wood (Lieut-Colonel)

 

Gravesend

The 6th visit of the South London Fellowship Band to Gravesend provided a most enjoyable varied programme for a capacity audience. The programme, compered by the band’s leader Major George Whittingham, commenced with the Cornet and Trombone Ensemble ‘Gone My Care’, which was immediately followed by the March ‘Semper Fidelis’ and then the Cornet Solo ‘I’d Rather Have Jesus’ (Soloist Alan Moyse). The programme included a variety of music which ranged from light classical to ‘big band’; the items included the Overture ‘Light Cavalry’, the 1st movement of ‘Themes from the New World Symphony’; ‘A Glenn Miller Collection’; the Prelude & Fugue ‘Arise, My Soul, Arise’; and the Marches ‘Able’ and ‘Mighty to Save’, interspersed with the bands excellent singing of ‘Rock of Ages’ and ‘God’s Love to me is Wonderful’, which were all well received. Adrian Horwood (Euphonium) provided the other solo item for the evening with ‘The Conquerer’. The Bible reading and comment for the evening were provided by Bev Hudson

Admission to this evening was free with a collection being taken towards the installation of a CCTV system; required to counteract the abuse to which the outside of the hall has been subjected over recent years. The delight and appreciation of the audience was shown by raising £722, making the evening a great success.