Loughborough Concert Band

Saturday 28th September 2019.

All charities are laudable. Local charities are especially so and the concert for Shepshed Foodbank is one close to all our hearts, if only because of our close links with St Botolph’s.

The Shepshed Food bank was launched five years ago when it distributed eight parcels. Now, sad to say, there are forty-five parcels given every week. The work is done mainly by a 20 strong band of volunteers that the organiser, Glenis Wilcox, cannot thank enough. The concert raised over £600 for the foodbank and whilst it’s sad that such a charity exists, it’s far better not to waste food and it’s always a lovely concert to play in.

The band had deps to help us owing to regular band members being away and we had support on the Baritone Saxophone, the clarinet and the drums. For this last, we welcomed back Paul Boneham, an old friend of the band, who certainly put a spring in all our steps!

In addition to a varied programme from the band, we had the Caroline Sharpe Singers, resplendent in their black outfits with a bright scarf or ties. The band accompanied them on some songs, one of which was May it be. Thanks to compere Eddie Pearson, we now know this is a song written by Enya for It the Fellowship of the Ring and nothing to do with the Beatles song Let it be. Eddie certainly had his work cut out with such a varied programme and such enthusiastic performers! And it was worth it to hear how much the audience enjoyed and appreciated the playing.

Additional fund raising activity this week included a cake sale in support of Macmillan nurses on Thursday 26th September which raised £127.