VISITORS to Penstowe Manor, Kilkhampton, on Saturday were in for a musical treat when they attended the eighth Band Together Concert, hosted by Bude Metric Brass.

As well as a selection of traditional marches, such as Washington Post and Montreal Citadel, the 70 musicians played a rendition of ‘Barnacle Bill the Sailor’, featuring bass trombonists Tony Jones and Jeff Henning.

This was dedicated to Raymond Gratwick, grandfather of Solo Horn player Polly, who had come especially from Hampshire to celebrate his 90th birthday at the concert.

Other musical highlights were a rendition of the Meatloaf classic ‘Bat out of Hell’, and ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen.

Demonstrating their wide ranging musicality the band played ‘Finlandia’ by Sibelius, and the big band arrangement of ‘Light Walk’, with a magnificent flugel solo by Vikki Van Uden from Regent Brass, the concert culminating with a fantastic arrangement of ‘Les Miserables’, which made the audience call for an encore.

This annual concert was in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance and the Friends of Bude Sea Pool (FoBSP), and initial calculations suggest it has raised about £1,500 for the two charities.