Concert For The Royal National Lifeboat Institution At The
Villa Marina, Douglas, Isle Of Man, 30th September, 2006.
The Warrington Male Voice Choir joined
forces with Wingates Brass Band to provide a memorable evening's entertainment
for The Villa Marina audience, on what turned into a rather wet Saturday evening at the end of
September. The concert was ably commèred by popular singer and TV personality,
Moira Anderson. Moira also performed two pieces, demonstrating, effortlessly,
why she is still the highly acclaimed artiste that she is. Moira has got her own website at www.moiraanderson.co.uk
Both choir and band performed a number of
stirring works, with a finale of an arrangement for combined band and choir of Melita,
better known as 'Eternal Father Strong To Save', and known
throughout the English speaking world, variously, as the mariners' hymn, the sailors' hymn,
or the navy hymn. The performance proved to be a powerful and stirring rendition of
a much
loved piece.
There were a number of highlights during
the evening. The top spot, undoubtedly went to a stunning virtuoso performance
of Lusher's Concert Variations by young Peter Moore, whose trombone, at
times, looked far too big for his tender years.
Moira Anderson's accompanist, Vincent
Billington, revelled in his own spot playing musical requests, but played, in
his own words "only those pieces I know." The audience soon
realised that Vincent knew a lot more than he was letting on, and enjoyed a
superbly witty musical interlude. See
www.vincentbillington.com
Another interesting
highlight on the programme, was the narration by John Knowles, chorister, of the
Battle of Trafalgar, with stirring musical re-enactment by Wingates. This
combination of voice and brass told the story of the epic sea battle, and the
death of its central hero, Admiral Lord Nelson, culminating in victory for the
British Fleet.
The concert though raising substantial sums for
the RNLI, did not, regrettably, meet the lifeboats' desired target of £2.2m
for a new Tamar class lifeboat for Douglas Station.
|
Moira Anderson sings 'The Holy
City' accompanied by Warrington Male Voice Choir. |
|
Geoff Corkish, IOM radio and TV
presenter, addresses the audience after the Raffle draw which raised
£2000. |
|
Councillors Hans and
Karen Mundry of Warrington, accompanied by members of the crew of
Douglas Lifeboat and Warrington Male Voice Choir.
Photograph by kind
permission of Roger Oram, Press Officer, Douglas Lifeboat, IOM. |
Click here to view more photos
of this visit to the Isle on Man
See also previews 'For
Those In Peril' and IOM Press
Release
