• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
      • Eastleigh Basics Bank
      • Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler’s Ford
    • Fair Trade
      • Traidcraft stalls in Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
  • Site Archive
    • Site Archive 2018
    • Site Archive 2017
    • Site Archive 2016
    • Site Archive 2015
You are here: Home / Arts / Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

Thornden Community Wind Band Christmas Concert

December 20, 2016 By chippy minton 5 Comments

“It’s beginning  to feel a lot like Christmas” – well, it certainly is for the 380 people who went to “A Swing-Along Christmas” concert presented by the Thornden Community Wind Band with their special guests The Spitfire Sisters on Friday evening. This was a wonderful concert and a fine introduction to the week before Christmas.

thornden-community-wind-band

The concert opened with just a sole drummer on stage.  He was soon joined by a double bassist, and then the other sections of the band entered in turn and picked up their places in “Christmas Mambo”.  Finally Deputy Director of Music Greg Walker (who had written the piece) took his place on the conductor’s rostrum and brought the piece to its conclusion.

Thornden Community Wind Band performing Christmas concert with The Spitfire Sisters, 2016, at Thornden Hall.
Thornden Community Wind Band performing Christmas concert with The Spitfire Sisters.

Special mention must be made of the percussion and rhythm section – probably the youngest members of the orchestra (and still in full-time education).  An accomplished performance by both musicians, and a valuable contribution that helped to give the orchestra an authentic “big band” sound.  “I didn’t even know he could play the double bass” the bassist’s mother was heard to say after the concert.

The programme included several well-known Christmas songs and carols – some of which the audience were encouraged to join in with while others, such as Good Swing Wenceslas, were given the big-band treatment.

Thornden Community Wind Band performing Christmas concert with The Spitfire Sisters.

The popular songs were fine choices to complement the sound of the band – big-band arrangements of 1950s classics such as Little Drummer Boy and I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus work.  I don’t think a big-band arrangement of Wham’s “Last Christmas” or Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas, Everyone” would have worked nearly as well.

Special Guests The Spitfire Sisters performed four songs in the first half, and added vocal accompaniment to several other pieces.

The Spitfire Sisters logo

The trio of ladies sang in harmonies reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters, but with lyrics of a modern age.  They are very very good – this small taste has whetted my appetite to see them in a full concert.  I will be keeping my eye out to see when they are next performing somewhere near me.

Thornden Community Wind Band performing Christmas concert with The Spitfire Sisters, at Thornden Hall, 2016.
The Spitfire Sisters

This was, as ever, an extremely entertaining and enjoyable concert by a very large band.  These things don’t just happen, they take hours or planning, preparation, and rehearsal – and all from volunteers who enjoy playing with others, led by musicians who enjoy giving people this chance.  Thornden Community Wind Band is an ensemble we can all be proud of.

George’s Trust

Georges Trust

Friday’s concert was in aid of George’s Trust, a charity set up following the sudden and unexpected death of George O’Brien from an undiagnosed illness in 2008.  As well as raising funds for research and treatment of cancer (£100,000 has been raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust Units in Southampton General Hospital), the charity helps teenagers and young adults reach their full, potential by making grants to youth organisations and providing awards for choral scholarships to Romsey Abbey Choir.

Next Concert

Thornden Community Wind Band’s next concert will be on 1st April 2017 at Thornden Hall, when they will perform with The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (The Spitfires) in support of Hampshire Scouts’ voluntary work in Tanzania in the summer.

Never miss out on another blog post. Subscribe here:

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

Review: Thornden Community Wind Band Concert National Theatre Live in Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh Areas The Spitfires 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band "The Spitfires" 2016 St George's Day concert Chandler's Ford Methodist Church.Review: The 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band St. George’s Day Concert 2016 Review: The Spitfires Band (5th Nov 2016) and My Other Ramblings treasure island programmeReview: Treasure Island by Thornden School
Tags: arts and crafts, Chandler’s Ford community, Christmas, community, concert, Eastleigh, entertainment, event, local interest, music, review, social, Thornden Hall, Winchester Road

About chippy minton

I've lived in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh for most of my working life, with interspersed with a few years in north-west Hampshire (though remaining a regular visitor to the area).

I work in IT, and my hobbies include bell ringing, walking and cycling. I am also a self-confessed “born-again runner” having discovered parkrun in 2015.

I enjoy live theatre and music, and try to watch many of the shows that are performed in the Eastleigh area.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ruby says

    December 20, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    Thornden Wind Band and The Spitfires? I will add that date to my diary now!

    Reply
  2. Janet Williams says

    December 20, 2016 at 6:59 pm

    Excellent! Chippy, thank you for yet another brilliant review. Thornden Hall has enabled the local people to enjoy the best performances. I like he details in your review.

    Thank you for telling us about George’s Trust. What a talented young man George was and I’m so pleased to see what his family has done in his honour. Southampton Cancer Trust Units — a very worthwhile project. I remember when my son was in the children cancer ward 15 years ago at Southampton General, we had some teenagers there amongst the very young children. The teenagers’ needs were clearly very different from young children and they needed their privacy and friends.

    I remember the teenagers were often given a larger room, but the children ward at that time had babies and teenagers, a mix group and the ward could get extremely busy, and the school was also in the ward.

    Reply
  3. Janet Williams says

    December 21, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    As you’re a veteren reviewer, in your opinion, where are the best seats at Thornden Hall to get the best all around view and sound?

    Reply
    • Chippy says

      December 22, 2016 at 6:32 pm

      I think the acoustics in the hall are pretty good wherever you sit. Somewhere towards the middle of the second quarter of seats is usually the best view.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Thornden Community Wind Band and The Spitfires in Concert - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    April 6, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    […] my review of the Thornden Community Wind Band’s Christmas concert, I mentioned that their next concert would be with the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (The […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

999, 111, 101, 112? Emergency Numbers You Must Know
Short Form Writing
101 Things to Put into Room 101
Peculiar British House Numbering System
Home
Charles Baynham in Chandler's Ford
101 Things to Put into Room 101 - Part 7 - The Final Leg
Red Cross, St John Ambulance And Red Cross Parcel
Eastleigh 2 Lincoln City 1: Take Off For The Spitfires
50 Things I Like about the Chandler’s Ford Area (Part 2)

Categories

Tags

arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening gardening tips good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to interview Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • Allison Symes on Short Form Writing
  • Mike Sedgwick on Short Form Writing
  • John Roberts on Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction
  • Mike Sedgwick on Zest In Fiction
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2022 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.