Busy Summer at Norwich Citadel

The Norwich Citadel Band (Bandmaster Douglas Beattie) participated in several summer events, including 120th anniversary celebrations for the corps in Aylsham, concerts in Snettisham and Sandringham, and the 125th anniversary of the ”Fisherman's Mission“ in Lowestoft.

The band traveled to Aylsham, 10 miles north of Norwich, on Sunday, 1 July, presenting a concert at St Michael's Parish Church. The event, celebrating the 120th anniversary of the local Salvation Army Corps, was well-attended, with many local residents and visitors formerly associated with the Corps. The band began with Temple Visions, which was followed by a ceremonial entrance of the Aylsham Corps flag. Most of the concert consisted of repertoire used during the current season, with the addition of Redeeming Love (Thomas Rive) and the band's first performance of Leonard Ballantine's Covenant Worship.

The following Saturday, 8 July, Deputy Bandmaster Richard Woodrow and Daniel Beattie were featured performers at Scarborough Citadel. Entitled “Music for a Summer's Evening”, the concert was presented by the Scarborough Citadel Band, with Woodrow and Beattie each contributing four solo items.

On Sunday, 9 July, the band journeyed to the west Norfolk coast, to support the Salvationists in the village of Snettisham. The day began with a march to the local Methodist chapel, where Major Ray Begley led a joint service attended by Salvationists, Methodists and other locals. In the afternoon, the band went to nearby Sandringham, to give a concert on the grounds of Sandringham House, where the royal family spends Christmas and New Year holidays. A large, appreciative audience, including Salvationists from Snettisham, Fakenham and King's Lynn, enjoyed the sunshine and the playing of the band. Featured soloists for the afternoon included Richard Woodrow, Daniel Beattie and David Winch. Returning to Snettisham, the band again marched from the Salvation Army hall and presented another open-air concert, entitled “Songs of Praise” at a local sports field, again supported by Major Begley.

Norwich Citadel Band's final engagement of the summer was in support of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, commonly referred to as the “Fisherman's Mission”. The Mission was celebrating 125 years of service to British fishermen and their families. A concert by the Norwich Citadel Band was held at Trinity Methodist Church in Lowestoft as a part of the celebrations. Despite being slightly short-handed and extreme temperatures (with the outdoors cooler than the interior of the church), the band played a fine concert. Included as a tribute to the Mission was the Band Chorus' rendition of the Mission Hymn – “For the harvest of the sea” – to the familiar Harvest tune “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”.