Loughborough Concert Band

To be honest the weather forecast for this particular Sunday, despite the long heat wave, was not encouraging. Canny band members kept half an eye to their emails in case the worst happened and the concert was cancelled. But since no email came, we all arrived in good time and peered up at the sky like sailors. 

The programme was chosen, as so often, to demonstrate the diversity of the band’s repertoire. We went from the driving march Light of Foot to the hauntingly beautiful Song for Trombone (with a solo spot from Mark Greenaway.) We played the evocative Coronation Scot, especially for the railway enthusiasts, Yesterday for those of us still gripped by Beatlemania and Sea shanties because, after all, we are an island nation.

And by then the sun had come out! The audience swelled, the ice cream seller had a queue and people ate picnics. England on a sunny Sunday with a band to listen to!

The second half of the programme began with Star Wars, moved on through Handel’s Royal Fireworks and a piece that proved very popular, Shostakovich’s Waltz Number 2. The Chilli Sauce Rag reminded us it was nearly time for tea and the whole afternoon was brought to a flamboyant end with Hootenanny.

We had spent a lovely afternoon at a beautiful location. Thank you to Newark Town Council for inviting us,  the audience for being so enthusiastic and appreciative, to the presenter from Radio Newark who opened and closed the afternoon, to Eddie Pearson who compered us and to Dave Coble who planned the programme, rehearsed us ( even when we grumble!) and conducted us.