Friary's Family Affair at Charity Concert

A charity concert held at Wellington College earlier this month saw three generations of Friary’s flugel player, Lauren Straker’s family on stage together.   Big and Brassy is a massed bands event, on this occasion raising funds for locally-based charities Brass for Africa and Parity for Disability.  Alongside Lauren was her nine year old daughter Ayla (cornet), her sister Madi (principal cornet) and her mother Sue (tenor horn).  Ayla is part of Sandhurst Silver Band’s Brasshoppers training band, whilst Madi is an army musician who also plays for Sandhurst Silver as does Sue.  Sue also plays for Cove Brass whose Musical Director Paul Speed conducted the concert.

The Best of British programme included items by Gustav Holst, Ron Goodwin and Ronald Binge’s The Watermill, a solo beautifully played by Madi.

‘It was such a special occasion for all of us to play as part of the same band, particularly as it was in aid of two very worthy causes,’ commented Lauren.