Birmingham Citadel Band at Tamworth

The Mayor and Mayoress of Tamworth, as well as Salvationists from Govan and Ayr, were among the people giving an enthusiastic welcome to the Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster David Nicholson) in the Assembly Rooms at Tamworth on Wednesday, 19 September 2007. The band’s visit was in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Tamworth Anker.

David Newstead, compère for the event, highlighted the strong links between the Salvation Army and Rotary in his opening remarks. He pointed out the support that the Club had given for Army projects in Africa and South America. Introducing the program, he said that the music that would be played by the band would reach those parts that other music fails to reach.

Opening the concert with the stirring march Celebrate Rotary, the band presented a varied program appealing to all tastes, from the exiciting Ray Farr arrangement of Bach’s Toccata in D minor to the contemplative Procession to Covenant (William Himes). More variety was provided by vocal soloist Stephanie Lamplough, accompanied by Trudy Purkiss on piano, who thrilled the audience with performances of classic arias and show tunes. The program also included Highlights from Last Night of the Proms with much audience participation and flag-waving.

In a segment of the program entitled “Thought for the Day”, David Newstead juxtaposed a current Salvation Army slogan, “Belief in Action” and the Rotarian slogan “Service above Self”, noting that these referred to the commitment of Salvationists and Rotarians to help build a better world. He noted that Salvationists do this through a strong Christian commitment, Rotarians through humanitarian concern. He concluded with the statement that the two slogans are interchangeable between the two organizations, and that what Salvationists and Rotarians believe has an impact on the work that both of these organizations do in and for the community.

Stephanie Lamplough brought the evening to a close with John Rutter’s moving arrangement of The Lord Bless You and Keep You.