Proms in the Park in West Bridgford

7 Aug 2009

Despite the uncertainty of British summertime, crowds equipped with picnics and deckchairs packed into Bridgford Park in West Bridgford to enjoy "Proms in the Park’, a free, open air concert staged by Nottingham Concert Band (Robert Parker) at the invitation of Rushcliffe Borough Council.

The event was organised by the Community Arts & Events team at Rushcliffe Borough Council, and has now become a regular fixture in the community calendar. It was introduced this year by the Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Peter McGowan, and supported by Millennium Jazz.

An audience of over 1500 people, some three times the number who attended the event last year, enjoyed a programme of British-themed light classics and Proms-night favourites, performed by the 50-strong band with their special guests for the evening: the Radcliffe-based Bridge Singers, led by Lynne Holland.

Opening with Highlights from Oliver! arranged by Ted Ricketts and continuing with Frederic Curzon"s Robin Hood Suite, the first section of the concert had a blend of film themes, light classics and traditional tunes.

After the interval, a Proms-style spirit was captured as Robert Parker encouraged the audience to join in with Strauss" Radetzky March, transcribed for concert band by Tohru Takahashi. This was quickly followed by Ravel’s Bolero, arranged by Frank Erickson, which proved a fitting tribute to the 25^th anniversary of Torville & Dean’s Olympic triumph. Elgar’s Nimrod changed the mood again, as did Neville’s selection of Sea Shanties. Nottingham Concert Band was joined by the Bridge Singers for the final set, with the crowd standing to sing along with Jerusalem and Rule Britannia, and the evening closed with two uplifting trips through Land of Hope & Glory.