Solo stars Paul Bennett and Richard Batten recently helped the Shirley Band raise more than £800 for the Guide Dogs charity at the band’s annual Christmas concert in Leamington Spa.

Great night

Fairey horn player Paul, winner of the Besson International Award at the 2014 Foden’s Solo Contest, and Richard Batten, who is the respected bass trombonist with Jaguar Land Rover, performed their solos on what proved to be a great night directed by MD Dave Bishop-Rowe.

Fantastic

Concert organiser Richard Robinson, who is a volunteer fundraiser for the Guide Dogs charity has known both players for many years.

He told 4BR: “I was delighted that Paul and Richard agreed to perform at the charity concert as I've known them both for a very long time.

Feedback from the concert has been fantastic, with many never having heard a brass band perform in concert before, which was very pleasing.”

Feedback from the concert has been fantastic, with many never having heard a brass band perform in concert before, which was very pleasingConcert organiser Richard Robinson

Lifetime cost

He added: “The concert helped raise vital funds and the local profile for the charity. With no government funding, Guide Dogs relies on the generosity of the public which helps provide mobility and freedom to blind and partially sighted people. The lifetime cost of a Guide Dog is around £50,000."

Fund raisers

Paul and Richard are pictured above with Sandra Grimshaw from Guide Dogs and young tenor horn player Freddie Cannell, who got to play with the band during the evening.

Freddie, who plays with Bilton Training Band is a fundraiser for Guide Dogs and has raised thousands of pounds for the charity, and later this year is to walk the Sahara Desert, alongside his parents, Lynn and Matt Cannell to help raise even more money.

The concert held in St Mark's Church, also featured professional four-part a cappella choir.