Busy Day for Gloucester Ensembles

Many Salvation Army musical groups are at their busiest during the Christmas season. On 17 December 2005, detachments from the Gloucester Salvation Army Band (Bandmaster Clifford Matthews) participated in two special events.

A few members of the band were invited to perform Christmas carols on BBC Gloucestershire's morning show, hosted by Vernon Harwood. Listeners were invited to suggest carols, which included Mid-Winter, Mary's Boy Child, and Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. In addition, the bandmaster was interviewed, discussing the Christmas program of the band and its general work. The band was able to communicate a “get-well” message to Songster Mary Hunt, a Gloucester Salvationist, during the show.

Later in the the day, a quartet from the band played a program of Christmas music for the residents and staff at the Forest Way home of the Mayfield Homes Trust. Bells, shakers and other percussion instruments were distributed to the residents who enthusiastically assisted with the performance. The half-hour “concert” was highlighted by the singing of Silent Night and finished off in an uptemp fashion with Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.