Hope Children's Center Benefit

The South London Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Major George Whittingham) gave a concert on 19 June 2009 at the All Saints Church, Crowborough. The event was a benefit for the Hope Children’s Center for AIDS Orphans in Blantyre, Malawi.

The All Saints Church has a busy community outreach program and an impressive suite of buildings that provide an excellent base for its many activities.

The Fellowship Band had the privilege of playing to a large and very enthusiastic audience in the capacious church. Bandmaster Whittingham directed and compèred a program that had something for everyone.

On the lighter side, items included music from the show “Oliver”, the trombone section was featured in Over the Rainbow and Eric Rapp (cornet) played April Showers. A special highlight was Bass in the Ballroom, with tuba soloist John Rodgers.

For full band and classical enthusiasts, items included The Champions, Melodies of Dvorak, His Guardian Care and Hymns of Praise.

In a period of reflection, the audience joined with the members of the band in singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness. This was followed by some comments by Roger Gadsden on a reading from the Scripture, as a prelude to the band’s offering of Sir Dean Goffin’s devotional masterpiece The Light of the World.

The event was a very enjoyable and fulfilling evening that raised over £1,000 for the Hope Children’s Center appeal.