* Profile of the Week*
We head North for this week's featured member.
Lorna identifies herself as a Northerner, having spent many years there, through heritage, experience and preference!!
She has been a flute player for 30 years, but has dabbled in saxophone, clarinet and piano. She only formally studied music up to A level standard, and then sat back to enjoy her playing with various ensembles.
She became a member of the band to meet like-minded people, and to meet fellow musicians to share her hobby with. It obviously paid off, as Lorna met her husband deep in the back of the brass section and hasn't looked back since. Seeing as though two of our own were to be joined in matrimony, it was our pleasure to be invited to play for their wedding! A wonderful day!!
Lorna has enjoyed a plethora of pieces with the band, most notably the many marches by Sousa, or Musical selections we perform regularly.
Apart from proudly wearing the uniform of the Central Band, a little known fact is the Lorna used to dress as a Cow-Girl for work... We won't ask what for!!
Blog
Central Band to be joined by Winchester Military Wives Choir in ChichesterApril 13, 2017 - 10:54 am
‘London Pride’ – The Central Band of The Royal British Legion, Southwark Cathedral – Saturday 14th OctoberMarch 26, 2017 - 8:59 am
St George’s Day Concert – St George’s Hanover Square – Wednesday 26th AprilMarch 26, 2017 - 8:57 am
Central Band Presents Cheque for £6,300 to National ChairmanJune 14, 2016 - 12:02 pm
Central Band to be joined by Winchester Military Wives Choir in Chichester
/0 Comments/in Central Band News, Concert News /by adminThe Central Band will be joined for the first time by Winchester Military Wives Choir for a spectacular summer concert in Chichester on 3 June.
The programme will feature well known favourites, marches, instrumental solos and David Cole’s spectacular arrangement of James Bond movie themes. The Military Wives’ will include performances of now famous ‘Wherever You Are’ and ‘Stronger Together’.
A concert not to be missed and at £10 + £7 U16s and OAPs it’s a steal, so book early!
‘London Pride’ – The Central Band of The Royal British Legion, Southwark Cathedral – Saturday 14th October
/0 Comments/in Uncategorized /by adminThe Central Band will be back to perform a celebration of music through the ages saluting the great city of London.
There will be music from the Royal Fireworks by Handel, Trumpet Tune by Purcell and Walton’s Crown Imperial from the Coronation of HM The Queen, as well as more recent pieces from the West End stage, including Oliver! and My Fair Lady. It wouldn’t be a Central Band concert without a great march or two so prepare to tap your feet to The Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates as a starter!
Ticket prices range from £30 (central nave) to £10 (side nave and restricted view). Contact Elinor on 020 3053 7094/ philanthropy@britishlegion.org.uk or buy online at www.britishlegion.org.uk/southwark
St George’s Day Concert – St George’s Hanover Square – Wednesday 26th April
/0 Comments/in Concert News /by adminTo mark St George’s Day what better place to be than back in this beautiful central London church (Handel’s church when in London)?
Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a few glasses of wine and nibbles in the church before the concert and then listen to music from the choir of St George’s as well as The Central Band of The Royal British Legion, interspersed with readings given by our guest readers including Dame Barbara Windsor and Robert Powell – all with an English theme of course! Doors open at 6.30 pm, the concert starts at 7.15 pm and ends at 8.45 pm. Tickets £40.
There is disabled access to the church but please note that the lavatories are accessed by ancient steep stairs.
Central Band Presents Cheque for £6,300 to National Chairman
/0 Comments/in Central Band News /by adminThe Central Band of the Royal British Legion presented the Legion with a cheque for £6,300 at the recent concerts at Windsor Castle at the beginning of June. The sum was presented by The Central Band’s Director of Music, David Cole MVO, to the Legion’s National Chairman, Terry Whittles.
The sum was collected at the various concerts and appearances from donations to the Royal British Legion by audience members and the general public.
Central Band Windsor Castle Concerts raise £30,000 for Legion
/0 Comments/in Central Band News, Concert News /by adminTwo nights of uplifting summer concerts by The Legion’s own Central Band, in the spectacular and historic surroundings of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, have raised over £30,000 for the Royal British Legion.
The concerts on the evenings of 1 and 2 June, were kindly sponsored by Sir Donald Gosling and featured a wide range of popular music from marches, to The Beatles, John Williams, Sea Songs, Richard Rogers and two opera arias, beautifully sung by guest bass/baritone Tristan Hambleton.
The Central Band continues its busy summer with concerts at Nye Hall Dover on Saturday 18 June, followed by appearances at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships finals at Wimbledon in July, before heading down to Sussex for a week of concerts playing to the summer crowds at the famous Eastbourne Bandstand.
Lots of new pieces recorded 1st & 2nd April 2016
/in Central Band News /by John PalmerThe band played 2 marathon recording sessions in St John’s Church Crystal Palace. The band want to give big thank yous to Ken – Sound Engineer and Tom our Producer as well as everyone else involved with the organisation. The produced music will be available in due course …
Christmas Concert for St John The Evangelist 2015
/in Central Band News, Concert News /by adminChristmas concert for St John The Evangelist, Upper Norwood – mince pies and mulled wine, all welcome!
Central Band at Southwark Cathedral 2014
/in Central Band News, Concert News /by adminThe Central Band of The Royal British Legion appeared before a packed and appreciative crowd at Southwark Cathedral on Friday 3 October. The concert was entitled ‘Magnificent Musicals’ and featured arrangements from Oklahoma, Cole Porter, Gershwin and concluded with David Cole’s own arrangement of Phantom of The Opera.
Here’s Jack Foley with the Central Band singing Anthem from Chess.
Cadogan Hall Concert – 12th October 2013
/in Uncategorized /by AndyThe Central Band of the Royal British Legion is delighted to announce that TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will join us for our special ‘Cinematic Greats’ concert at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 12 October 2013.
Lights… Camera… Action! Take your seats for a musical journey through the best of British film.
From the heroics of the Dambusters to the magic of Harry Potter, you’ll experience some of the finest soundtracks of the silver screen as The Royal British Legion’s flagship band celebrates the launch of the 2013 Poppy Appeal.
All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to The Royal British Legion.
Buy your tickets now from the Cadogan Hall website
Christmas Celebration 2013
/in Concert News /by AndyLeading the singing were the scintillating Bach Choir who performed a number of carols including the enchanting ‘Balulalow’ and lively ‘Holly and the Ivy’. Also taking to the stage were classical girl group All Angels with their take on ‘Infant Holy’ and ‘Ding, dong! merrily on high’.
The music was interspersed by readings and lessons. These were performed over the two evenings by Frank Gardner, Tamsin Grieg, Susan Jameson, Michael Jayston, Sir Timothy Ackroyd, Sarah Badel, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Alastair Stewart.
The Central Band brass group added a touch of the upbeat and modern. ‘Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer’, ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’ and ‘Frosty the snowman’ all featured in Captain David Cole’s two arrangements … and, to the delight of the audience, Captain Cole himself featured on percussion!
The Bach Choir, the Central Band and Organ combined to lead the audience in a number of carols before a rousing rendition of ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’ reminded all present that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…