CONCERT-GOERS were treated to a lively evening of military music as they dug deep to help old soldiers abroad.
A packed house at Darlington’s Dolphin Centre enjoyed a peerless performance from the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas at their 13th annual charity concert sponsored by Vauxhall and Chevrolet dealer Sherwoods.
The event was organised by the chairman of the Yorkshire branch of The Gurkha Welfare Trust, Lt Col Keith Ryding, who served for nine years with the Gurkhas, including the Queen’s Gurkha Signal Regiment and Parachute Company.
“This was the best concert so far,” said Lt Col Ryding, of West Burton. “Major Paul Norley has added a sharpness to the band which I am sure is the result of the hard work he has done with them. There is a renewed precision and increased sensitivity to their performance.
“The presence at the concert of recruits from the Gurkha Company in Catterick and many members of the retired Gurkha community added a special Nepalese flavour which enhanced the audience's enjoyment of this delightful evening.
“With the generous support of Alasdair MacConachie, Managing Director of Sherwoods, we have managed to raise in excess of £11,000 which will go a long way to help to fund our objectives of relieving poverty and destitution for old soldiers and their dependents in Nepal.
“The Gurkha Welfare Trust currently spends £11m every year looking after the retired Gurkha community in Nepal.
“Over the past 13 years we have managed to raise more than £100,000, by staging our annual concert, which is only possible by the generous contributions from everyone here tonight.”
The band played an eclectic mix of military, folk and rousing band music to the 500-strong audience culminating in the Brigade of the Gurkhas March.
Sherwoods managing director Alasdair MacConachie added: “The Gurkhas are renowned for their bravery and toughness and have long formed an essential part of the British Army.
“My father commanded a Gurkha battalion in Burma so I have had a strong allegiance to the regiment.
“I am immensely grateful to all my customers and friends who continue to support this event each year and also to the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowden, who has come along to support us for the first time this year.
“We owe these soldiers and their families a huge debt of honour; they have laid their lives on the line for us and it is only right and proper that we continue to help them as best we can.”
