Loughborough Concert Band

This concert took us to some new ground, St Mary’s in Melton Mowbray. The church is spectacular – full of soaring pillars topped by graceful arches. And it’s huge – like a cathedral. We had offered a concert to raise funds to support the Heart of St Mary’s re-ordering project. So much had been done – the organ (previously played by Sir Malcolm Sargent, no less) had travelled to Bideford in Devon for a complete overhaul, and the floor, which had been on several levels reached by ramps and steps, is now all one level throughout, to name but two features of the renovation. The lavatories, whether or not part of the refurbishment, won praise from one band member as the swishest ever used in a church!

The concert was a celebration of television and film music, and, bending the brief slightly, radio. The first half included medleys of Disney music and of Bond tunes. This last gave compere Eddie Pearson the chance to challenge the audience to name their favourite Bond. (Sean Connery was chosen. But audiences nearly always say that. Presumably that’s because they are faintly stunned at having the opportunity to talk to the compere!) The first half concluded with Big Country, piece hailed as a favourite by one happy audience member.

A well-earned refreshment break was followed by Galloping Home the theme from Black Beauty, a piece that was held off the top spot of all time favourite TV themes by the ever popular Hawaii 5-0. Now, there’s an idea for the band…The final piece of the evening was American Trilogy with an encore of Magnificent Men.

We had help from some very talented Deps including Sue Cornish and Christine Ranson on Clarinet, Gwyn Bailey on trumpet, Colin Pearson on drums and Steve Boyles on tuba who all stepped in for unavailable band members.