The Central Band of the Royal Air Force Charity Concert

About Us

Very much part of the local community for so many years, the former Royal Air Force base at Locking was also the home of the former Western Band of the Royal Air Force. Therefore, with such close links with the town of Weston Super Mare, it was no surprise that when the Band was sent on operational deployment to the First Gulf War in 1991, the people of Weston came together to help and support the wives and families of those left behind, whilst their husbands were deployed at various field hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Sadly, following the disbandment of the Western Band in 1999 and the relocation of musicians to the other established RAF bands at RAF Cranwell and RAF Uxbridge in 1999, Weston Super Mare has seen little of the Royal Air Force bands, but thanks to a former member of the band that is all about to change.

To rekindle these musical links with the community of years gone by, on Sunday 10th September at the Playhouse Theatre, Royal Air Force music returns to Weston in concert with reputedly the finest military band in the country, the Central Band of the Royal Air Force along with the famous RAF Squadronaires and acclaimed vocalist Joanne Pullen, who, back in the 1990's was also from Weston.

The Central Band is of course well known for its concert performances around the world, and participation in state ceremonial events throughout the country. Consequently, with the forthcoming centenary celebrations of the Royal Air Force itself, the band will be at the forefront of nationwide events once again, thus this charity concert in Weston will indeed be a rare musical opportunity to bring together the community with friends, family and former members of the band once again.

Away from the concert stage, it must be remembered that as serving members of the RAF, band personnel are still required to support military operations worldwide – most recently in Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq, Cyprus and The Falkland Islands in roles such as aircraft guarding, ambulance driving, convoy commanding and passenger handling. The campaign medals proudly worn on the concert stage by today's military musicians are therefore further testament to their additional roles in support of H M Forces around the world. It is therefore appropriate that this charity concert will be raising welfare funds on behalf of the Royal Air Force Music Charitable Trust for other service charities.

Founder and Honorary Administrator of the Royal Air Force Music Charitable Trust, and former horn player with the RAF Western Band, Malcolm Goodman MBE says "Weston Super Mare has always had a special place in my heart, from when as a rather younger musician in the Western Band I found myself leaving my wife and young family to go to war. Thankfully returning safely and life having subsequently taken me in a variety of musical directions, with the recent 25th anniversary of the Gulf War, I decided it was time to use this occasion to bring RAF music back to Weston as a thank you to the community for all their support."

For further information and to purchase tickets for this concert please contact the Playhouse Theatre on 01934 645544 or online at www.theplayhouse.co.uk or visit the charity website at www.rafmct.org.uk