Middleton Band have been very busy this weekend supporting the East Lancashire Railway’s 1940’s ‘Wartime’ weekend.
We began our weekend of 40’s fun with a Saturday concert by the youth band on East Lancashire Railway’s Bolton St Station platform in Bury. The youth band played a variety of 1940’s repertoire and a good time was had by all!
The 40’s fever continued on the Sunday with a concert by the main band at St Paul’s church, Ramsbottom. The concert got off to a late start due to the weather but the band played to a packed church, many wearing 1940’s outfits- It was like stepping back in time!
Conducted by Barry Hudson, the programme began with the rousing march ‘ORB’ and included classics such as ‘Keep smiling through, ‘Amazing Grace,’ ‘West Side Story,’ ‘All through the night,’ ‘The Great Escape,’ and ‘Black and White Minstels Selection (no2).’ The concert also featured several of our excellent soloists, Anglea Houghton playing ‘Misty’ and Chris Parkinson playing ‘Myfanwy.’
On Monday 30th May, the band rounded off the weekend with a ‘Proms’ style concert at St Paul’s Church, Ramsbottom.
As tribute to the allied forces we began with the ‘British Legion’ march and continued with ‘Semper Fidelis,’ ‘Can Can,’ ‘Arnhem,’ ‘The Great Escape’ and ‘Nimrod.’
We were joined by the excellent Forces Sweethearts who sang a selection of 1940’s repertoire and had the audience singing along and grooving in the aisles!
To conclude the concert, the Forces Sweethearts joined us for our ‘Proms’ set which includes ‘Fantasia on British Sea Songs,’ Jerusalem,’ There’ll Always be an England’ and ‘Pomp and Circumstance March no1.’
The band would like to thank Barry Hudson for stepping in to the breach and leading us so well! We would also like to thank those guests who helped us out this weekend, you know who you are!
For more details about the event, download a programme of events PDF or see the East Lancashire Railway Website.
To view our full photo gallery from this event see our facebook album here.
If you were at this event and have any photos of the band you would like to share with us, please email them to webmaster@middletonband.com