Cancer Research Benefit in Upper Norwood

Despite adverse weather conditions, a good audience was in place for the South London Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Major George Whittingham) and guest soloists Kevin Ashman (cornet) and Dr. Simon Schultz (piano) at Upper Norwood for the third annual concert in support of Cancer Research UK, held on 17 November 2006. The concert was chaired by Upper Norwood corps officer Major Mark Herbert.

The Fellowship Band began the concert with a march, Keep Singing (Pat Rivers), followed by the male chorus singing The Lord's Prayer (A. H. Mallotte). The band also presented the selection Songs of the Soldier (Charles Skinner).

Kevin Ashman, principal cornet of the International Staff Band, started his contributions with Norman Bearcroft's exciting Golden Slippers. This was followed by another classic solo, A Happy Day (Erik Leidzén), with the added interest in the soloist used a number of historic cornets throughout the performance. As explained by Ashman, “The first one I used was a pocket cornet from the mid 1800s – it has unusual valves in that the airways run the air down the valve casing! The second was an American ‘one-off’ prototype instrument from around 1920 that was built with a fully compensating valve system, but never commercially manufactured. The third was an old German rotary valve cornet, again from the late 19th century. The slow movement was played on a French-made echo cornet (probably around 1900) and the finale on a long-model American cornet from the 1920s.”

Piano soloist Dr. Simon Schultz, who serves as the Bandmaster at Chelmsford Citadel, offered Beethoven's variations on “God Save the King” and a setting of “Jesus Loves Me” in the style of Clair de Lune.

Bandsman John Hockley gave a short Scripture message, followed by a presentation from Pauline Bennett of Cancer Research UK. More than £800 was collected for the charity on the evening.

The Fellowship Band performed several items throughout the concert, including a vocal solo, There Will Be God (Joy Webb), sung by Leslie Swift. Band items included SLFB-X (a new march written for the Fellowship Band's 10th anniversary by Terry Camsey), Les Toreadors, and Treasures from Tchaikovsky (arr. Bramwell Coles). Major Whittingham has recently celebrated his 80th birthday, but he chose to close the concert with a uptempo, contemporary item, Bandology.