In March 2007 the
Showband participated in the New York
Wind Band Festival and had the privilege of
playing in the
Carnegie Hall and the Band Members and SMADS
worked very hard in order to raise the required funds to enable their participation at this particular
festival.
SMADS, the Music
Department and the Showband would like to sincerely thank the
following for their generous contributions and support towards
this trip.
The local Madeley firm of
Elcock-Reisen Coaches for sponsoring the Showband with
the provision of free Coach travel for the Band to and from
Heathrow Airport. The School's Music Department has enjoyed a
continued relationship with Elcock's who regularly transport the
Bands to all of their concerts, festivals and contests around
the UK and Europe.
Trevor Davies of
Maws Gallery who on receiving some money to celebrate
his birthday had donated this gift to the New York
Fund.
GKN Sankey Male Voice Choir
and the
Harrow Apollo Male Voice Choir who both
contributed their respective services free at a joint
concert held at the School on 24th June. The proceeds from this
concert raised the sum of £640.
The Brewood Singers who contributed their services free
at a joint concert held at St.Michael's Church, Madeley, in
July 2005. The proceeds from this concert raised
over £700 for the
New York Trip. The Showband and SMADS also wish to thank
St.Michael's Church, Madeley for the free staging of the
Concert.
Mr Jimmy Moore, Grandfather
of Showband members Alex & Karla Bridgewater who ran the 2006 London Marathon and
donated the sponsorship which he had raised to the New York
Fund.
Julie and Paul Westbrook,
parents of Trombone Player Mark Westbrook, who
celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary and made a donation
to the New York Fund.
Anthony Watkins, father of Saxophone Player Lucy
Watkins who had organised a Golf Day on behalf of
the Showband to help raise funds for the New York Trip and as a
result made the tremendous amount of £3256. A huge
thanks on behalf of everyone associated with the Showband is
given to Anthony for his hard work. SMADS would sincerely like to thank
Anthony for arranging the
day. It has been mentioned to me that a repeat event may follow
in the future. Keep your eyes on the web site for details when
it is announced.
Wrekin Round Table No. 317
together with the Ladies Circle and 41 Club who
donated the sum of £100 to the New York Trip Fund from
their recent house to house collection funds, following an
application by SMADS. A very big thank you to the Round Table
for their donation.
One of our SMADS Members, Cathy
Harbord (Vice-Chair), our very own Paula Radcliffe, took part in the Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon in Wales
in
September 2006. She emailed me afterwards to inform me that she
completed the run in a time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. A
big well done from everybody associated with the School and the
Music Department. Cathy raised the
marvellous sum of £600 which went towards the New York
Trip - many thanks to Cathy and a huge thanks to everybody who
sponsored her.
The Trustees of the Bernard Crawforth Memorial Bursary Fund
graciously agreed to donate the sum of £1220 towards
the New York Trip. SMADS wishes to extend its very grateful
thanks to the Trustees for their marvellous donation. To read
more about the work of the Bernard Crawforth Memorial Bursary
then please click on the link that appears below or on the left
hand side of this page.
Bernard Crawforth Memorial Bursary
The Promise Auction held at the School
in
October 2006, raised the marvellous sum of
£1750 and we would like to express
thanks for the donations and support of local businesses and
supporters and to all who attended the event and also bought all
the lots.
On Sunday 15th October the Rotary Club of Ironbridge
hosted a Joint Concert with the Jackfield Elcock-Reisen
Brass Band under the Musical Direction of John Maines and
the Jubilee Fellowship Gospel Choir conducted by Mark
Barnett, with a performance from the school's Showband. The
Concert was held in the Sherwood Square, Telford Shopping
Centre, with the intention to raise funds for the Showband's trip to New York. Everybody offered their
services free of charge thus maximising the total proceeds. At
the end of the Concert the Rotary Club's President handed over a
cheque to Simon Platford for £3000. Everybody associated
with the Supporters of Music at Abraham Darby School (SMADS) and
the Showband wish to sincerely thank the Rotary Club, the
Jackfield Elcock-Reisen Brass Band, the Jubilee Fellowship
Gospel Choir, the Telford Shopping Centre, Martin and Shirley
Brookes and the audience who all helped in raising this
tremendous donation.
On various evenings during December a number of band members visited a number
of local hostelries in Shifnal, Horsehay, Coalbrookdale and Ironbridge - the grand
total of £640 was raised. Thanks to those band members
who gave up their free time and also a big thanks to those
members of the public who donated their money. A big thanks to
all the pubs and restaurants who let the musicians entertain
their customers.
Those who attended the Christmas
End of Term Concert on Monday 18th December will know that
we held the Christmas Grand Raffle and also the Termly 100 Club
Draw. Both had top prizes of £100 - the school was very thankful
to Mr Jim Clarkson (Grand Raffle Draw Winner) and Mr M
Whitehouse (End of Term 100 Club Winner) who both
donated their prizes to the New York Trip Fund.
