Charity concert raises over £700

The Co-operative Milnrow Band

A charity brass band concert has raised more than £700 for Springhill Hospice.

The event, held at Milnrow Cricket Club was organised by the Rochdale Co-operative Members Group to raise funds for the hospice.

Entertainment was provided by the Co-operative Milnrow Band under the baton for the first time of its newly appointed Musical Director David Evans.

An immediate rapport between the band and the new man in charge was evident from the word go as the seemingly rejuvenated outfit launched into the march "Cossack".

This was followed by Leonard Bernstein’s technically testing overture Candide and then by a whiz bang finger gymnastic version of Hora Staccato which gave those present a taste of the magnificent sound and showed the amazing technical ability of this young Championship Section band.

Amongst other items featured were Riverdance, Breezing Down Broadway, Valero, James Bond Theme, and Mid All the Traffic, the hymn tune Crimond, Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov and for a curtain call Be a Clown.

Featured solos played were: Swing Low Sweet Chariot performed by Chris Binns (solo trombone), The Way We Were performed by Adam Snape (solo euphonium) and Bass in a Ball Room, a first time solo performance on E flat Tuba by Johnny Cowans.

The band’s president Ken Watts said: “The band was very proud to be led on this occasion by Rob Westacott principal cornet player of the famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

“Alan Brett (Cricket Club Treasurer) commented on the audience appreciation of the band’s performance and thanked Mrs Conwell, the Committee, other representatives of the Co-operative Organisation for raffle prizes and all present for a magnificent effort.

“Ian Jenkins, and his party of brass band enthusiasts obviously enjoyed the event and whole heartedly appreciated the monies raised for such a good local cause as Springhill Hospice.”

At the end of the evening Mrs Sonia Conwell and her organising committee presented a cheque for over £700.00 to Ian Jenkins, fund raising manager of the hospice.