Slinfold Concert Band played to a large and enthusiastic audience at their traditional pre-Christmas concert in Cranleigh village hall on December 3^rd. As usual the band performed a wide variety of music, including concert marches, a classical overture, music from the shows and a few seasonal items. Individual members of the band also entertained the audience with a number of solo items and one trio from the brass section, whilst a guest piper, Martin Russell, made what is becoming a traditional appearance at this concert with a selection of numbers, including the haunting 'Amazing Grace', and a rousing version of 'The Green Hills'.

A special mention must be made, however, of an item that did not appear in the programme, namely a presentation by Polly Hobbs, the band's chairman, of an inscribed baton to the band's Musical Director, Malcolm Gay, to mark his twentieth year with the band. Polly is seen here handing over the gift from the band to a surprised Malcolm! A bouquet of flowers was also presented to Malcolm's wife, Lynne, who plays the euphonium in the band.

Malcolm had just left Bagshot concert band in 1991 when he was offered the post at Slinfold, and as he joked afterwards, before accepting the offer he had to look at a map to locate Slinfold! Malcolm, who lives near Woking, spent 12 years as an army musician, and then took up the baton with a number of local brass and concert bands before coming to see what he could make of Slinfold band.

The band has doubled in size in those twenty years, and is now proud of its reputation as one of the best and busiest concert bands in the area, made possible, as one band member said, by the amount of time and effort Malcom has invested in the band during the past twenty years.

The band's final appearance of 2011 is, as usual, the Carol service in St. Peter's Church, Slinfold. This takes place at 7pm. on Sunday Dec.18th. and all are welcome at this traditional Christmas celebration.

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