The Ipswich Hospital Band The Ipswich Hospital Band, was formed in 1976 with 4 musicians who worked at Ipswich Hospital. The motto of the Band is Music for Health and this still stands today – as we promote music as a healthy and enjoyable activity and continue to raise money for local health related charities. The Band has grown from strength to strength over the last 40+ years and has become one of the most sought after bands in the local area. 13 years ago the Band successfully applied for a lottery grant of £750k and took over the lease of the redundant St Peters Church in Ipswich, from the Historic Churches Trust. The money was used to convert the church to a rehearsal and concert venue for the Band, and is also hired out to many other groups and users for various clubs, functions and plays and concerts. 9 years ago St Peters Band was formed from our then Intermediate Band. We now have a third working band, the Saints Community Band, born out of our Beginners Band. Over the years the Band has raised thousands of pounds for local health related charities, either through its own concerts or playing at other local charitable events to help them raise money. Each year we hold many concerts, including a Remembrance Concert, Christmas, Spring and Autumn Charity concerts, concerts for the Firefighters Charity, and a Children’s Concert. During the Spring and Summer the Bands are very busy playing at local fetes and shows, including the Suffolk Show, Heveningham Hall Country Fair, Art on the Prom, Henham Steam Rally, and other local fetes, garden parties and outdoor picnics and many more. We have played on Eastbourne Bandstand and several times on Colchester Castle Park Bandstand and Gorleston Bandstand. We have had 2 trips to Ireland in 2006 and 2009 and should have been on tour in Belgium this July. Every December small groups from all 3 Bands play carols at various venues in and around Ipswich, including outside Debenhams, in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons and Tesco, as well as at some smaller private functions. We have collected over £42,000 over the last 7 years from our carol playing, half of which has been donated to various local health related Charites – such EACH, local Children’s Hospice, Heartbeat, East Anglian Air Ambulance and MENCAP and Marie Curie. And finally on Christmas Day morning the Band again divides into small groups and plays Christmas Carols around the Wards at Ipswich Hospital, a tradition that started nearly 43 years ago, and still continues today.
Details
Ipswich Hospital Band - Member Organisations
Mobile: 07975 654412
Email: maggie.porter@btinternet.com
Website: www.ipswichhospitalband.org.uk
Ipswich Hospital Band
Contact: Maggie Porter