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Central Southern Area Fellowship band

Reading Central Songsters

    

Les and Sheila Armstrong, then of Newbury Corps were spending an enjoyable holiday in Sri Lanka at Christmastime in December 2004. The hotel they had been staying in was completely destroyed and 250 lives lost when the Tsunami struck just 30 minutes after they had left it for the next stage of their vacation. Realising how blessed they were to be spared, they resolved to help raise money for the restoration of the country. As a result of a concert arranged under the auspices of the Mayor of Newbury in May 2005 a sum of £7,500 was made available to the Salvation Army in Sri Lanka.

This event, organised by Les Armstrong and held at Reading Central, was another in a series for raising funds for the Army's work to relieve the effects of the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. It featured the Central Southern Area Fellowship Band, of which Les is a member, under Bandmaster Brian Cooper, Reading Central Songsters under Songster Leader Nicola Hills and guest soloists Owen Farr (tenor horn) and Steven Sykes (Eb Tuba) with accompaniments provided by the band.

Steve Sykes numbers included "Celestial Morn" (Condon) and his own arrangement of Monti's "Czardas", performed with his customary dexterity and showmanship. Owen Farr displayed his dexterity in such items as Arban's "Carnival of Venice" and Mozart's "Rondo Alla and Turka". The Songsters choice of the Mozart Choral "Ave Verum", sung in Latin, provided a striking contrast of the composer's output. The two guest soloists combined to perform a duet by Ord Hume "The Tit-Larks".

Major Fred Thompson, the Band's Executive Officer read from the scriptures and led a time of meditation which concluded with the Songsters singing "With Wings as Eagles" (Harlan) and the Band playing Leidzen's "Sweet Hour of Prayer".

The event was attended by several dignitaries from Berkshire, including the Mayors of Newbury and Thatcham, the Chairman of West Berks District Council and the High Sheriff of Berkshire. The Compere was Councillor Patrick Paisey, the Mayor of Salisbury. A sum of just over £1,500 was raised. The quality of the concert belied the fact that members of the band had travelled from all parts of the UK on a damp Friday evening to come together to present their music.

Their commitment and dedication, if ever in doubt, was epitomized by the fact that within less than 12 hours of the conclusion of this concert, they would be assembling to take their place in the Lord Mayor's Show in London.


Report by Patricia Bennett