Although I haven't been a "regular" at the Beckenham Concert Band for the past six months, tonight was a night not to be missed.
It was the 25th anniversary of the founding of the band, and was also the retirement concert for the founding conductor, Ken Messenger, who has had to step down due to ill health.
Proceedings got off to a start soon after 5pm with a reunion buffet, catered by the oboe player, Veronica (Ronnie) Comfort. Pictures of the band performing over the years were on display, along with several A2 sized pictures of the band. One was the 1991 Hyde Park bandstand concert, in which I think I participated. I certainly played on the Hyde Park bandstand with the band at about that time. Another was of Ken holding the hand of a would-be conductor who must have been all of seven or eight at a fete at Cheyne Hospital. The band has played at many such events over the years, helping to raise funds for worthy causes such as this one, which is a facility for disabled children.
When it was getting on for 7pm, the present band members started disappearing to warm up, while the rest of us stayed to reminisce for a while longer.
I'd never sat in the audience of a Beckenham Concert Band concert before, and I soon found myself tapping my foot along with the music.
The plan was that former members would go up on stage to play Hootenanny at the end of the concert, but I discovered during the interval that there were second bassoon parts there which were not being played, and that I knew all of the music, so I teed it up with Colin Styles, who was conducting the second half, and he was agreeable to me coming up on stage for the whole of the second half, so I despatched Stephen to my car for my music stand while I unpacked my instrument, and went up on stage with my duly delivered music stand.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing the second half, and we got Ken to come up and conduct Hootenanny right at the end when everyone else joined in as well.
The retirement collection is to go to The Kidney Patients Association, which is fitting, as it's Ken's kidneys which have forced him into retirement.
Helen
Last Revised: 21st April, 2002.