Five of the bravest bandsmen and women you could ever imagine will be taking one heck of a musical plunge on New Year’s Day.
Budgie smugglers
At the stroke of 12 noon on the windswept icy shores of the Esplanade Beach in Kirkcaldy in Fife, the quintet from Kingdom Brass plus other hardy souls will be wearing the Highland version of budgie smugglers to swim in the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth.
Led by trombonists Chris Mansfield, David Frame and Bill Sandell (above), the lads and lasses will be raising funds for SANDS – the charity that helps families that have suffered the tragedy of still births and neo natal deaths.
Making a splash
The boys will be joined by Greta Hogan and Margaret Smith and hope to make a real splash so to speak by taking their instruments into the waters to play ‘A Guid New Year’ which has been specially arranged for the occasion.
Thanks to the generosity of Warwick Music, the makers of the p-bone trombone, the three budding David Wilkie’s will be playing on rust proof plastic instruments, whilst the girls will play on ice resistant percussion and an old cornet!
SANDS was chosen as it holds a firm place in the hearts of Bill and his wife Carol's family amongst others.
Plastic thanks
David Frame told 4BR that strangely all the team are looking forward to the invigorating dip. "We are used to the cold up in these parts, so stripping off for a blow in the water doesn’t sound too bad at the moment – although come the day we might think a bit differently!"
He added: "The charity does such wonderful work that a bit of discomfort will be well worth it – and as Margaret is a nurse we are sure to be able to have a medicinal nip of whisky to keep us warm too."
The p-bones so kindly donated by Warwick Music will be perfect, although I have heard that a couple of people are saving some goose grease from their Christmas dinner to rub over us tooDave Frame
Goose grease
As for their preparations – Dave revealed a possible secret weapon or two. "The p-bones so kindly donated by Warwick Music will be perfect, although I have heard that a couple of people are saving some goose grease from their Christmas dinner to rub over us too!"
A full report on the event will be recorded for YouTube, so why not support the band and a great cause by offering your financial support too.
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