SLFB
Annual Dinner, 2012
Our grateful thanks go to Maurice Horwood for
organising this year’s excellent Annual Dinner for the band, and at a very
affordable price. This took place at a new venue for us, Southern Valley Golf
Club, near
General Larrson
had us all gripped in attention by his eloquent portrayal of his own initially
reluctant musical development. As a YP band-member at age 8 in Copenhagen he
drew the short straw in instrument allocation, with a bronze Eb rotary-valve
alto-horn and had the added embarrassment of publicly wearing “lion tamer
tunics”; but he was indebted to the band-leader for his initial musical
mentoring there. Moving to
At 18, John
came to England and the Training College, thinking he would cheerfully
say good-bye to music – “it wasn’t a sacrifice” - but music kept
cropping up – firstly in the Training College’s Royal Albert Hall pageants,
when Commissioner Harry Read asked him to put music to drama. This became his
entrée into writing the 10 musicals that he and General Gowans put together,
starting with “Take-over Bid”, when he was the 28 year old officer at
Hillingdon Corps, “encouraged!” by Commissioner Denis Hunter.
General Larrson concluded
with a moving account of an
Australian medical doctor, Graham Hislop, who when invited to see “Jesus
Folk” in a theatre, became stirred by the Lazarus song
“Out of my darkness he called me” and went on to become an
outstanding officer at the age of 50.
Roger Gadsden expressed our deep appreciation to the General, and Commissioner Freda Larrson led our meditation and prayers, at the end of this very stimulating evening of fellowship together.
General John Larrson and Commissioner Freda Larrson
Our Leader!
Roger Gadsden (giving thanks)
Saturday
10th DECEMBER at GRAVESEND
A
long awaited visit by the South London Fellowship Band, their 5th
to
The
Dedicated Divas under the leadership of Tina Shepherd were a very welcome
inclusion in the programme. Looking resplendent in their evening gowns, among
their items were “The Carol of The Bells” and a Gowans/Larsson arrangement
of “In the Face of a Child.” Tina was the vocal soloist in “The
Surprise” which was accompanied by the SLFB.
The
programme was interspersed with congregational carols
General
John Larsson (R), accompanied by Commissioner Freda Larsson, compèred the
programme.
The South London Fellowship Band was conducted by Darrell Scholes, its associate conductor.
A collection raised £307 which was shared between the Gravesend Corps and the band.
In Festive mood
The Dedicated Divas
The Dedicated Divas with Darrell Scholes and our Guests General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson
Engagements have been carried out at the following venues over the years and we are continuing with these on a regular basis:-
Upper Norwood
The United Reformed Church West Wickham
Sutton with guest soloist Maisie Wiggins - trombone
Northampton Central
Eastbourne Citadel
Hadleigh Temple
Royal Tunbridge Wells with guest soloist Nick Hudson - trombone
Gravesend St George's Church
Penge Salvation Army - Divisional meeting "Come and Celebrate"
The United Reformed Church Herne Hill
Shaw Salvation Army, Lancashire
Redhill Salvation Army
Margate Citadel, Salvation Army
Rochester Prison for a Carol Service
Denmark Place Baptist Church (In aid of the Parkinson's Disease Society)
Ipswich and Felixstowe
Blackpool Citadel
Thornton Heath
Croydon Citadel with the South London Youth Band (Leader Paul Graham)
Tour of Scotland and Northern England
Plymouth Exeter Hall, Whitleigh
Bromley "Open Rehearsal" and "Composers Night"
Brighton Congress Hall
St George's Church Beckenham (10th Anniversary)
St Laurence Church Catford
Wellingborough
Boscombe
Chatham
Southend Citadel
Doncaster
Canterbury
Tunstall
Bedford