Cambridge Heath Brass

Hadleigh Temple
Sunday 30th October

Guests for the monthly Praise Meeting at Hadleigh Temple were Cambridge Heath Brass, supported by Hadleigh Songster Brigade and the corps' own Heather Sheldon (flute).  Cambridge Heath Brass was formed in millennium year to support the work of the Salvation Army in conjunction with the Cambridge Heath Corps which, although operating an active church and community programme, no longer had sufficient bandsmen for such prominent events as the watch-Night Service at St Paul's Cathedral, a fixture on the band's calendar for many years.

The band includes many with past connections with the corps at Cambridge Heath, including on this occasion Keith Johnston and Peter Bale of Hadleigh Temple, and Jack Proctor, currently on holiday from Perth in Australia. 

Under the direction of Roy Terry their programme included "Swedish Festival March" (Gunnar Blomberg), "My Jesus I love thee" (Ballantine), "Go down Moses" (Ray Steadman-Allen) and "Jubilant Faith" (Ray Bowes).  Principal cornet Derek Watson played Erik Leidzen's "A happy day", in the presence of his parents, and following Dean Goffin's "The Road to Emmaus" the band's Executive officer, Major Malcolm Jones, spoke movingly of his own journey in life, and of the recent loss of his son with cystic fibrosis.

The songsters sang "I've been changed" and Andrew Blyth's challenging "Compelled by love".  Heather, who had featured in a cornet trio the previous evening, displayed both her versatility and sensitivity in her two contributions, Elgar's "Chanson de Matin" (used in the Salvation Army to the chorus "Come, Holy Spirit and abide with me") and Faure's "Pavane".

Following the meeting there was much reminiscing as guests and hosts shared refreshments together.

Peter Bale

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