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Band on the Run
It was Friday morning and we had just arrived home from our holiday. I was sitting at the

kitchen table with a friend discussing a potential regular booking for our church hall,
when my mobile rang. I don’t often hear it, but I noticed the phone was flashing. I also
don’t often answer it if I don’t know the number, but as my mobile number is now
displayed on the noticeboard outside church, I thought I had better!

‘Hello, it’s Ken here’ the person said, ‘this is a rather strange request’. It transpired that
he was the Band Leader for the Test Valley Brass Band who were booked to play at
Swanage Bandstand the following day and were concerned about the inclement weather
forecast. Could we offer a port in the storm if required? This would entail opening up at
10.30 and closing the doors around 4-5 pm. It would involve 32 band members plus 8-10
others and some random dogs! They would arrive by 10.45 if it was raining. A rather
laid-back arrangement!

Having established that the church and hall were vacant, and the arrangement discussed
with a fellow elder, I confirmed it with Ken. I then set to and advertised the event to all
those I thought might wish to attend at such short notice.

But I then began to wonder whether this was a scam, as we’d never had a request like
this before. I checked Swanage Events to find there was no mention of the Test Valley
Brass Band having a booking at the Bandstand – so then I was even more unsure. I had
a sleepless night!

But the following morning members of the band were waiting outside church in the rain at
10.45 and gradually the church filled up with people and instruments of all shapes and
sizes and was transformed into a great concert venue, and what a concert it was.
The band stopped playing after their first session and they all piled into the hall where
their order of 40 fish and chips arrived. We supplied tea and coffee.

We enjoyed another great session after lunch and gradually the church emptied by 4pm
and the Test Valley Brass Band left for Andover leaving behind some very contented
punters and the lingering smell of fish and chips.

Thank you to Ken and the Test Valley Brass Band – please come again, but perhaps
with more warning next time!

P.S. as I was writing this I heard from Ken that they would like to make a donation to
church funds, ‘for coming to our rescue on Saturday and looking after us so well, we’re
so grateful’.

Davina
see photo page 25

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