SLFB Benefit for London City Mission

On Friday, 20 October 2006, the South London Fellowship Band, under the direction of Major George Whittingham, gave a concert for the benefit of the London City Mission. The host church, St John's, Eden Park, Beckenham, has a long history of support for the Mission, particularly the Waterloo Christian Centre's work among the homeless. The concert was in support of current refurbishment efforts, which will cost £86,000 plus fees.

In keeping with the character of the audience, which included both brass band enthusiasts and neophytes, the program was varied. The performance of one of the brightest gems of brass band literature, Eric Ball's Resurgam, was made more poignant by the passing earlier in the week of John Archibald, a member of the SLFB trombone section. The effect of the music on both the band and the audience was exquisitely expressed by the prolonged moment of silence at the end of Ball's masterwork.

Solo and feature items included Eric Rapp and Alan Moyse performed The Flower Duet. The trombone section was featured in None But the Weary Heart and Frolic for Trombones. Daniel Burrows, a missionary from the London City Mission, played A Song for Ina (Philip Sparke). The band also formed into a male chorus, singing The Lord's Prayer, The Old Rugged Cross and There Will Be God, the latter featuring soloist Leslie Swift.

Items by the full ensemble were equally varied. In addition to Resurgam, items included Joyous Proclamation (Norman Bearcroft), the march Champions, Les Toreadors, and the premiere of a new march, SLFB-X, composed by Terry Camsey to celebrate the South London Fellowship Band's tenth anniversary. The final item of the evening was another classic of Salvation Army banding, Treasures from Tchaikovsky.

During the concert, Roger Gadsden, a member of the band and a Director of Ministries for the London City Mission, conducted an interview with Adam Gage, coordinator for the Waterloo Centre.

The Fellowship Band again evidenced a fine standard of performance. Total receipts for the event totaled £682.26 in support of the London City Mission.