You wait more that 18 months for a gig, then two come along in less than two weeks! But there were no complaints from Friary Brass when the Band returned to the idyllic riverside setting of Phillips Memorial Park in Godalming for Proms in the Park. The superb bandstand sadly was out of bounds this year due to social distancing requirements but that did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the Band and the large audience of all ages on a warm late summer’s evening.
The programme started appropriately with Gregson’s Prelude to an Occasion and included part of the running order played at Westminster before moving to traditional Last Night fare: Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Jerusalem and Pomp and Circumstance No. 1. The audience responded with a frenzy of flag waving, and an encore - perhaps more reminiscent of New Year’s Day in Vienna - the Radetsky March brought the concert to a rousing conclusion.
Band Chairman Nigel Stevens summed up the event: ‘We’re so fortunate to have been able to restart our concert programme in two such beautiful venues, and even the weather was kind to us. The sight of those flags waving and a group of youngsters jumping and clapping to the Radetsky March was something to behold. It’s wonderful to be back!’
