It was a beautiful, balmy Sunday evening on the 10th of July when the Band performed a stirring Proms Concert at the Berry Head Hotel, Brixham in aid of the RNLI. Under the baton of the band's Musical Director, Colin Crossman, the programme started with the quick march San Carlos to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands War. Colin was actually in the Band that sailed to the Falklands on the SS Canberra when the march was written by former Principal Director of the Royal Marines Band Service, Lt Col John Ware. This was followed by the rousing overture, Light Cavalry by Franz Von Suppe which according to Colin, caused 45 Commando Unit, Royal Marines who were also aboard when it was played on the Canberra at that time, to go crazy!
This was followed by a delightful Tenor Sax solo played by Mick Jones, What a Wonderful World. The Band were then joined by the brilliant soprano singer, Donna-Marie Broomfield who stunned the audience with her amazing renditions of I feel Pretty and I Could Have Danced All Night. The first half closed with the thrilling music from the Pirates of the Caribbean and why not, we were in Brixham after all!
The second half opened with the unique concert march by Malcolm Arnold, Padstow Lifeboat with that notable D sounding throughout the piece, like the sound of the Lifeboat's horn. As the evening was so very warm it was then appropriate to play through Lawrence of Arabia by Maurice Jarre which added a bit of Eastern spice to the night. This was followed by All Through The Night by Sammy Nestico and then Donna joined the band again to sing that beautiful Aria by Puccini, O Mio Babbino Caro. The pace was picked up again with John Williams and his Raiders of the Lost Ark which launched us nicely into the Finale.
It was a fun packed finale which included all those well known pieces to get your vocal chords vibrating including, Jerusalem, Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and then to round it off, it was a hand held, arm linking farewell with Auld Lang Syne. The Band then played the march of the Royal Navy, Hearts of Oak and by this time the sun was setting and the sky was turning a beautiful orangery-red and so it was fitting to finish off with that incredible piece of music by Hans Zimmer from the submarine film Crimson Tide with a beautiful trumpet solo at the start of the piece played by first trumpet player, Phil Hayward.
The Band would like special thanks to go to Donna-Marie Broomfield, Peter Thorp of the Brixham RNLI, Lynn Spillett and the Hotel Management and Staff and of course, the lovely audience who waived their union flags so enthusiastically and joined in with the splendour of the occasion. Thank you one and all and see you all next year!
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