Music from the ‘40s and memories of the Battle of Britain are central to a concert on Sunday jointly featuring the Cambridge Brass Band and the Cambridge Little Big Band.
Musicians from the Cambridge Brass Band and the Cambridge Little Big Band pictured at a concert rehearsal last week. Members of the Cambridge Brass Band, and Little Big Band, pictured at a rehearsal for this Sunday’s concert. They are, back from left, Phillip Roberts, El Cross, Bernadette Winter, Rob Hocking, Lindsay Weir, Teresa Thornton, Mark Connolly, Hannah Doherty and Jacqui McPherson. In the middle row is Julie Lummus, and at front from left are Donna Dillon, Robert Lummus, Ashwin Singh and Katrina Winter.
The afternoon concert at the Cambridge Town Hall is part of the build-up to the Brass Band’s 150th anniversary in 2027. It also marks almost 10 years of the Little Big Band, which was founded by musical director Rob Hocking in 2016 to expose Cambridge High School students to a different musical genre.
Hocking told The News the concert is a chance for the community to enjoy music from a bygone era and to acknowledge some Cambridge people involved in the Battle of Britain.
Fighter Aircraft Flying in the Sky. Photo: superphoto.be, pexels.com
“Several local pilots from Cambridge included Alan Deere, Wilfred Clouston and Keith Park,” he said. “They played significant roles in the Royal Air Force and the concert is a time for us to remember the sacrifices they made.
“After Britain and Poland, our 135 Kiwis made up the third greatest number to take part in the battle, highlighting our important contribution to the war effort.”
The Battle of Britain, which took place over the skies of Britain from July to October 1940, held off a German invasion and was considered a key turning point in World War 11.
Entry is free, but koha is being collected for the Waikato Cancer Society.
Vintage Fighter Planes Flying in Formation. Photo: Steve Cormie, pexels.com
