Chelmsford Visit to Snettisham

The Chelmsford Citadel Band (Bandmaster Dr. Simon Schultz) visited Snettisham on 17 October 2009 at the invitation of Lieutenant Colin Hanover. Hanover, who is the Corps Officer at Snettisham, is a former member of the Chelmsford band and has also played with the band several times since becoming a Salvation Army officer, at a number of important engagements.

Snettisham is in the county of Norfolk and has a population of about 2,400. On arrival, the band was given a light lunch with variety and a tasteful presentation. The first engagement of the day was at St. Mary’s Church, a very fine building dating back to 1340, with a 172-foot spire. The program, carefully chosen so that the people would recognize most of the music played, was performed to a capacity congregation. Among the pieces chosen were Deep River, Whiter than the Snow, This Is My Story and I Vow to Thee, My Country. After the band had finished, it was evident from comments among the congregation that their efforts had been enjoyed.

The band then moved to the local Methodist church to set up for the evening festival. After this had been completed, they walked back the the Snettisham Corps hall to enjoy a dinner that had been prepared by Karen Hanover and her team of helpers. Following dinner, as the members of the band walked back to the Methodist church, they witnessed many hundreds of pinkfooted geese flying in a V formation on the way to the RSPB bird sanctuary, one of the largest in Europe.

For the concert program, Bandmaster Schultz introduced a number of new pieces of music along with some tried and trusted items. Among these were Dudley Bright’s Paean (which means “a song of praise”), the cornet solo Happy Day played by Dave Wright, Blessings and I Bring Thee All, the latter being played just before the Scripture reading. Of added interest was that the Chairman for the evening, Major Ian Robinson, led the band in his own composition Morning Star.