Loughborough Concert Band

Passion is the creation of Churches Together in Shepshed. It opened its doors in 2009 as a response to the needs of young people in Shepshed, giving them a safe space in the heart of the community. Nearly 11 years on, Passion continues to help young people to make the right choices.

St Botolph’s hosts an annual concert to support this worthy cause and the band is invited to play. To provide further support, this year’s concert was attended by the Mayor of Charnwood, the Chair of Shepshed Town Council and Councillor Chris Radford.

Since Passion was the brainchild of Churches Together, there were choirs from St Botolphs, Christ Church Methodists and Chero Voce, and the Caroline Sharpe Singers.

The Band started the evening by playing Gershwin’s Strike up the Band and closed the first half with Chorale and Shaker Dance. We accompanied the Caroline Sharpe Singers for May it be and Tell me it’s not True. We closed the whole evening with a selection of music from Last Night of the Proms (Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance.)

During the evening we played Over the Rainbow in memory of Maggie Styles, second clarinet player. Maggie, sadly, recently died after a brave battle with ill heath.

The evening was compered by Howard Ketton who gave the choirs time to come on and off by sharing jokes which raised a smile from the listening band. The evening raised £1042.60 on the night, which represented an evening well spent.