Fly the flag at 'Last Night of Proms'

FLAGS will be waving at the Hippodrome Circus next month when a Last Night of the Proms-style finale rounds off the biggest brass band concert ever to be seen in Great Yarmouth.

Over 70 musicians, formed by a combined Norfolk Fellowship and Anglia Fellowship bands of the Salvation Army, will present an evening called The Best of British. It's all happening on Friday, November 6 at 7.30pm.

The programme will be a tour round the UK with familiar tunes including the Londonderry Air, the Floral Dance and the stirring Dambusters March. Soloist Joan Cook will lead the band and audience in Rule Britannia in the well known Last Night format which will also feature the songs Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.

The concert is being staged to raise money for the Salvation Army and BBC Radio Norfolk Toys and Tins Christmas appeal. Former Radio Norfolk presenter Tony Mallion will host the event.

But, as it comes just a day before Remembrance Sunday there will also be an acknowledgement of this special event. As well as Joan Cook there will be solos from singer Bram Bryant and tuba player Martin Blessett.

The fellowship bands are made up of older players. The Norfolk group, led by former military bandsman David Woodrow, rehearses at Aylsham while the Anglia band, led by another former Army musician Ray Tood, is based in Ipswich.

They recently combined for a concert in Bury St.Edmund's Cathedral.

“This is going to be something really special,” said Tony Mallion. “It's a programme of very familiar pieces played by some of the area's most experienced musicians. I reckon the Dambusters March played by so many will be spine-tingling. It will truly be a night to remember.”

Tickets are just �6 and available from the Hippodrome Box Office on 01493-844172 (open to personal callers on Saturdays from 11am-3pm) or online at bookings.yarmouthhippodrome.co.uk

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