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On Saturday 15th October the band made their way up the motorway, around bendy roads and past many speed cameras to the Staffordshire market town called Leek, also known as the ‘Queen of the Moorlands’. It is also my home corps.
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For the concert the screens were drawn back to extend the hall to accommodate the very good sized crowd which had gathered, and the people who had a slightly restricted view were able to watch the band on TV monitors.
The opening march Crossbearers was followed by a varied programme which included a xylophone solo by Robert Hayward, a timbrel item and a horn solo called Green Hill performed by Neil Blessett.
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Certain members of my family were truly amazed by the dexterity of the cornetists fingers during the duet Quicksilver performed by Martin Hughes and Gavin Lamplough.
Other items included in the programme were Canadian Folk Song Suite, Just as I Am, and The Present Age.
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The following day I was able to sit in the congregation and listen to many complimentary comments made about our band. During conversation with a retired Army officer, who was also visiting his home corps, he commented that he had been trying to decide which piece of music he had enjoyed the most. He felt he could not pick out any particular piece as he had thoroughly enjoyed the whole programme.
This was the Corps Anniversary Weekend and Birmingham Citadel Band made sure it had a great start.
The band members should be assured that the difficult journey was worthwhile and very much appreciated by the corps folk at Leek.
Words: Carole Richardson
Pictures: Gordon McKee
