St Andrew's, Dearnley

St Andrew's, Dearnley and Smithy Bridge

We are delighted to confirm that our friends from Wigan, the band 'Gifted', will be making a return appearance at St Andrew's on the evening of Saturday, September 29.

Many of you were no doubt present in Church a year ago when the same musicians presented a 'Lancashire Night' for us with proceeds boosting our Wider Welcome appeal fund for the development and improvement of community facilities at the back of Church.

The band have come up with a different format for our entertainment on the 29th when they will offer us a varied musical programme, broadly based on 'Songs from the Shows', but also including other popular pieces to set the mood for a pleasant evening.
Tickets will be on sale soon from Sheila, priced at £8 adults, £4 children, and will include a chilli-con-carne supper. There will be a raffle, use of a pay bar and the usual £1-in-the-envelope draw, and perhaps other fund-raisers during the interval.

Members of the band are delighted to be coming back, having been thrilled at the size of the St Andrew's audience last time and the encouraging feedback they received following the unqualified success of their 'Lancashire Night'.

The band line-up has changed slightly from last year and now comprises of:

• Pat Fisher, lead singer and keyboard
• Mike Fisher, lead guitar, banjo and vocals
• Jamie Harrison, bass guitar and vocals
• Keith Claxton, drummer/percussionist
• Tony Bostock, guitar, mandolin, keyboard and vocals

The band has lost a guitarist, but has acquired an accomplished musician in Keith Claxton, a very experienced percussionist, who has played for years with top brass bands and salsa bands in the Wigan area.

The band has been together for three years and takes its name from the words 'Gift Aid' in that it helps many organisations to raise money for worthy charities with proceeds 'Gifted' on to welcome parties.

Collectively, the band has supported many different charities over the years and has helped to raise in excess of £20,000.

Tony (Bostock) said: "Our programme on the 29th will include songs and music from the Shows, old and modern, with opportunities for the audience to singalong and, during the second half, to dance in the aisles.

"The acoustics in your wonderful Church, combined with the warmth of the reception we received from the St Andrew's audience, made it easy for us to accept immediately when we were invited to come back. We are looking forward to another special night.

"We are delighted also to be able to help St Andrew's again in your drive to raise funds for Wider Welcome."

Details of tickets etc will be announced soon in Church, on pew sheets, on our Church website and in the local press.