Oddfellows Brass in Concert at Orpington 9th July 2011

On Saturday afternoon 9th July 2011 Oddfellows Brass, one of the leading brass bands in the Country, played in concert at the Priory School, Orpington, Kent in aid of the St. Mary Cray and Dartford District Provincial Grand Master’ Charity, S.S,A,F.A. (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association). The Provincial Grand Master (Local Chairman) Sister Vera James, her family and friends have to be congratulated for organising such a wonderful event; so to do the members of the Rifle Corps, who attended and worked hard in aid of S.S.A.F.A. to make it such a success.

Unfortunately some of the leading players who had travelled 160-170 miles, like the others, to the event, were held up in traffic on the M25 at the notorious Dartford River Crossing. They also carried some equipment vital to the band as a whole, so a delayed start was announced and the tea pot became the saviour with free teas being supplied to all. The audience of approximately eighty, comprising members, local Brass Band enthusiast and other local people, fully understood the predicament and were completely sympathetic to the situation.

The band, ably led by Rob Boulter, eventually started some 45 minutes late and their virtuoso performance absolutely stunned the audience, many of whom had not experienced a live performance of ‘pure’ music, into absolute silence followed by rapturous applause. They played a variety of wonderful arrangements, some of which will be shortly available to all on their new CD recorded a couple of weeks ago.

One of the ‘new’ converts to brass band music, the most helpful school keeper, Rob (don’t know his surname) sat at the back by the door absolutely mesmerized. He was quite happy to stay later and allow the band to complete the full programme, with encore, even though it would mean he would be a little late arriving at his ‘PunK’ event that evening.

  Peter Clarke, Secretary of the St. Mary Cray and Dartford District.