Telford's Meadowdale Nurseries to support Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival

The Festival Charity Concert, which is held on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16, at The Museum of Iron in Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge, is an annual event that aims to raise money for lSevern Hospice.

The Ironbridge Gorge Brass Band Festival is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers. Every year they organise probably the biggest non-competitive celebration of brass band music in England.

The objective of the festival is to promote brass music in the area and encourage people of all ages to come along and enjoy it, whilst also raising money for charity. Entry to the festival during the daytime (10am-5.30pm) on Saturday and Sunday is free of charge, with an evening concert on the Saturday night, as the main fundraiser, with tickets priced at just £10 per ticket (under 14’s are free).

The 'Brass Night of the Proms' Concert, will be an open air, picnic style concert, which will take place on the lawn at the Museum of Iron, giving guests the chance to wave their Union Jacks and sing along to old favourites such as Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem and God Save the Queen. The concert will be performed by The Band of the Royal Signals and The JM Band from Telford. The concert will start at 7.30pm and all proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the Severn Hospice.

The open air concert, which has grown year on year, is now recognised as one of the premier events in the local Brass Band calendar.

Meadowdale Nurseries, in Wellington Road, Horsehay, will be providing all of the plants and containers that decorate the stage, which will then be raffled off at the end of the weekend, to raise more money for the charity.

John Anderson, co-owner of the nurseries, said: “We have been supporting the festival for the last five years and were more than happy to help again this year. We pro-actively raise money for Severn Hospice during the year at the garden centre as well, as we think it is such a worthwhile cause, so the fact that the proceeds of the concert goes to them as well, is great.”

Neil Fury, festival chairman, said: “The festival is run entirely by unpaid volunteers and all of our funding comes from sponsorship, grants and donations. So we are always extremely grateful to local businesses such as Meadowdale for their kind donations and support. Without this continuing support, the festival simply could not proceed.”

If you would like more information on the festival please log onto their website www.ironbridgebandfestival.co.uk. Tickets to the evening concert are available from all of the Severn Hospice shops and on their website www.severnhospice.org.uk. They can also be purchased on the night at the gate.