Busy Christmas Season at Norwich Citadel

The Norwich Citadel Band (Bandmaster Douglas Beattie) had a busy but successful Christmas season, with over twenty engagements.

A group of fifteen members of the Norwich Citadel Band played in a live broadcast as a part of the final “Look East” program before Christmas. The bandmaster was interviewed by the host, Stewart White, and the band concluded with a special arrangement of the last verse of Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

The band took a large part in the Norfolk Police Carol Service, held at the Norwich Cathedral, and in the local Salvation Army “Carols for All“ service at the Great Yarmouth Marina Centre. In addition, several medieval churches including Carlton Rode, Attleborough, Little Melton and Foulsham invited the band to play Christmas concerts.

The Norwich Citadel Band, Songsters and Timbrels, with a guest comedian and other singers and dancers, joined with BBC Radio Norfolk and compère Tony Mallion for a “Celebration Gala Concert at Christmas”. Held at the Theatre Royal in Norwich, the event was for the benefit of the Christmas Toys and Tins Appeal.

The band's own Christmas Concert, entitled “Christmas Joy”, was held at the Citadel on 4 December 2005. In addition to the contributions from the band, the concert featured BBC Radio Norfolk's Canon Ivan Bailey, who introduced the carols and Christmas music and provided a reading in the inimitable Norfolk dialect. Former Citadel Band percussionist and deputy bandmaster Herbert Edwards and his grandson Matthew also presented readings. A cornet solo on the Huron Carol was played by Richard Woodrow.

Another highlight was a detachment of the band playing carols at Brasteds Restaurant, for a group of patrons who had all paid for a “Christmas Dinner with the Carols by the Salvation Army Band”.