The Solent Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Dan Redhead) presented a concert at Opengate Baptist Church, Bognor Regis, on Friday, 5 May 2017. A near-capacity crowd welcomed the band in the modern, spacious church with excellent acoustics.

Items from the band included:

• Let There Be Praise (Dick and Melody Tunney, arr. Barrie Gott
• Dance Before the Lord (Peter Graham)
• The Triumph of Peace (Eric Ball)
• Alderney (Dean Goffin)
• Daniel (Barrie Gott)
• Dance Like David (Andrew Mackereth)
• Prelude on “Lavenham” (Geoffrey Nobes)
• South Coast (Martyn Thomas)
• Bognor Regis (Leslie Condon)

Two of the band’s soloists were featured. Principal cornet Martyn Thomas played In the Love of Jesus (William Hammond, arr. Ray Steadman-Allen). John Hanchett, principal euphonium, offered In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend, arr. Richard Phillips). The band was again delighted to include on the program Whiter by Barrie Gott. The composer has kindly gifted this composition to the band on a temporary basis. The band was supported by the newly-formed Opengate Church Choir.

The minister of the church, Nick White, expressed his gratitude that the members of the band had donated the concert free of charge, in order that the hosts might gain maximum financial benefit from the event. Close to £400 was realized toward the church’s rebuilding fund.

Rounding off the evening in a generous moment of respect for the local Salvation Army band, Bandmaster Redhead handed the baton to Bognor Regis Bandmaster Frank Bedford and invited him to conduct Leslie Condon’s march Bognor Regis.

The concert concluded a very busy eight weeks for the Fellowship Band, with concerts at Hayling Island Community Centre and the Andover Corps, where £385 and £245 was realized respectively for the hosts’ fund-raising initiatives. At Hayling Island, the band was supported by Bell Canto, conducted by the band’s principal baritone, Derek Dunn. The band also provided support and musical ministry at the Southern Division’s Adult Family Ministry event at the end of March.

Source:
Submitted by Band Secretary Tony Unwin