THIS concert was very much like an old-style Christmas stocking – full of good things and with one or two surprises thrown in for good measure.

Malvern Hills District Brass Band’s musical director John Swindells lost no time in setting a cracking pace with Heidzen’s Christmas Joy, getting us in the mood for a packed table of festive goodies.

A medley of English folk songs – courtesy of Ralph Vaughan Williams – maintained this traditional theme.

Then there was an abrupt change of mood with a particularly fine rendition by Tom George on solo cornet of A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square.

Director Swindells then whisked us through an evocative Disney Fantasy, a piece that would create the right atmosphere for more showbiz tunes in the second half, which kicked-off with gusto as the band tore into Marching to the Movies.

There then followed an exquisitely sensitive version of The Way We Were, Hazel Duncan’s flugelhorn squeezing every last drop of emotion from the Marvin Hamlisch classic.

However, the tinsel was really taken out of its box with the Snowman and the evergreen Jingle Bells.

These two would set the sleigh moving for a coquettish take on Santa Baby by Charlie Ellis that gave more than a nod in the direction of Eartha Kitt and Marilyn Monroe.

Dad’s Army then advanced through the December mists, everyone bawling defiance at old Adolf and no doubt the recession, too.

The band’s charity this year was the County Air Ambulance and the audience dug deep into their pockets, no doubt spurred on by a great night of music.

John Phillpott