2026 Jul - Dec
Sat 1st Aug saw the return of the bands Proms in the Park event.
The band was delighted to present a cheque for £558.72, raised at a recent concert organised by the band and also featuring "The Hapless Sailors" shanty group, in aid of the charity Children’s Hospice South West.
The presentation took place during Saturday’s successful and much enjoyed Proms in the Park and following the handover, the band played a beautiful, emotional piece called “A Special Place”, which was written for and dedicated to the CHSW, by the famous brass band composer – Goff Richards,
Pictured is Geoff Samuel, Chair of Wellington Silver Band; Eileen Mitchell, the Chair of Children’s Hospice South West Wellington Friends Group & Nick Gilding, Vice Chair of WSB, who compered the evening.
More detail on the event and pictures of the band are on the Around Wellington Website.
https://www.aroundwellington.co.uk/perfect-evening-for-silver-bands-prom/
The band held a hugely successful "Proms in the Park" on Saturday evening (1st August). Attended by a large crowd, the band had members of the audience, (using song sheets which were given out), singing along to pop tunes such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Angels, Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, One Day Like This, Taylor Swift's Love Story and many more. The audience were also treated to members of the band singing the first verse and chorus of Wellerman, a well known sea shanty.
Some people took the opportunity to dance along including a four year old little girl who spent the evening dancing and "conducting" the band and at the end came up to our conductor, Ann, asking for a hi-five.
The band's conductor for the evening, Ann Bartholomew, was presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the band, by Catherine Early. This was in recognition of and with grateful thanks for stepping in to take us with only two rehearsals before the event, due to our MD, Colin Dance, being unable to attend due to illness.
The band were also grateful to Tony Mann, Lyn Grady, Colin Whitworth and Lee Watson for deputising for members who were unfortunately unable to attend. It was also our newest member, Alfie Seddon's first gig with the band.
Thanks also go to Patti Martin & Leanda Thorne for acting as our first aiders and to Valerie & Steve Mahoney and Stephanie & Grace Howard for acting as marshals and for distributing the song sheets + the hand held Union Jacks. The latter were given out during the second half ready for the finale.
The Proms culminated in Jerusalem, Fantasia on British Sea Songs - this included an encore of the hornpipe, to give the audience a second chance at keeping up with the band and Pomp and Circumtstance with the singing of Land Of Hope & Glory.
The band were pleased to welcome Salty Bill's and would like to thank them for catering for the evening by providing food and a bar. Some people brought their own picnics and some even brought tables.
Our final thanks must go to the Friends of Wellington Park for allowing us access to the chairs, plus ropes and signs to warn people of the ha ha and pond.
If you didn't manage to make it this year, speak to many of the attendees and we are sure they would recommend us to you, so look out for the adverts next year and hopefully you can swell our audience even more.
Please to take your time to check out Around Wellington for more photos of the evening!
And to Louise Mills for this wonderful video of our event on YouTube! Like and Subscribe!
Keep an eye out for more concerts to come !