Top brass concert for FORCE

The best brass band in Devon will be performing a special charity concert in Exeter this autumn to raise money for FORCE.

The Lympstone Band will play at the Mint Methodist Church at the top of Fore Street on Saturday October 4 (7:30-9:30pm).

Tickets cost £15 and you can book your seat at https://forcecancercharity.co.uk/classics-galore-band/ or call the FORCE fundraising team on 01392 402875.

Led by musical director Chris Spreadbury, the band will showcase their incredible talents with a varied programme that will include the 1812 Overture, Riverdance and Star Wars.

It’s the sort of rousing music that regularly raises the roof at the Classics Galore! concert in aid of FORCE, held every two years at the University of Exeter Great Hall.

This concert is tagged Classics Galore! Just the Band with the former South West Brass Band Association champions and two-time winners of the best band title at the Bandamonium festival in West Devon taking centre stage.

Amazing

Euphonium player Paul Smith from Tiverton is particularly pleased that the concert is happening.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2024, had brachytherapy in August and finished 23 doses of radiotherapy in September.

Paul was midway through his cancer treatment when he and wife, Lynne, discovered FORCE.

“It changed our whole perspective. I came here one day and loved that it was so calming. It’s amazing. Somewhere to come and relax – that was the start of our love affair with FORCE. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. The people here are lovely and help you feel so calm.”

The couple, who have been together for more than 45 years, both had complementary therapies – “A lovely way to recuperate together” – and they have shared the journey with Lynne keeping her husband buoyant.

Reassuring

“We tell everybody about FORCE now. Every day brought us lower and lower but when we found this place, it picked us back up again. It really is lovely. It’s a place where you can come and talk to someone who will help or find someone who can. It’s so reassuring. The whole experience has been great. The complementary therapies really worked. I don’t think people realise how good it can make you feel when you or your partner is going through so much,” said Lynne.

Paul retired nine years ago as director of sales for an American company involved in the manufacture of electronics, giving him more time to indulge his musical talents.

Thrilled

He has played the euphonium for nearly 60 years since taking it up as an 11-year-old and is a member of the Rackenford Rascals septet, three of whom have been on a cancer journey in recent years, and the Lympstone Band, performing with them in the last two Classics Galore! concerts.

“The Band has been really thrilled over the years of Classics Galore! with the audience reaction to our contributions and I’ve had so many great comments afterwards as well. We had thought for some time maybe the same audience might come out to listen to Lympstone Band and support this wonderful charity in years without a Classics Galore!

“With my cancer journey over the last year, which introduced me to the wonderful FORCE team, I was doubly determined to try and make it happen and with everyone’s commitment we at last have a date. It promises to be a night full of musical contrasts with hopefully something for everyone,” said Paul.