SHIPSTON TOWN BAND: Every seat was taken, every programme purchased and every raffle ticket sold when the band held its Christmas Concert in the Townsend Hall last Sunday.

Admission was free and the audience was equally free with applause as it enjoyed a full and varied programme of music and readings from all the sections of the band and their special guest Anne Hume who provided some varied and thoughtful readings.

Under the baton of Denis Abbotts, the band opened in spirited style with the march Christmas Joy by the American Salvation Army composer Erik Leidzen.

An immediate contrast was provided by John Rutter's delightful Candlelight Carol, featuring the cornet of Adrian Birch, and this was followed by that perennial favourite The Snowman.

Anne Hume's first reading took us back to Dylan Thomas's boyhood with a humorous account of his recollections of Christmas.

Solo euphonium David Birch was featured in Adolphe Adam's O Holy Night.

White Christmas brought back memories before Anne Hume presented a soldiers recollection of life in the trenches and the famous Christmas Day truce.

The first half closed with a melody of carols from the contemporary arranger Geoff Richards, entitled appropriately Christmas Piece.

Shipston's Junior Band opened the second half and featured Jingle Bells and a medley of Deck The Halls and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

The 14 members were testament to the future of the band and Denis Abbotts was quick to point out that there is an ever open door to anyone of any age who wants to come and join, learn to play an instrument and progress through to the senior bands.

A rousing medley of carols welcomed back the town band before David Birch returned, to be joined by fellow euphonium player Sebastian Bray for an enchanting arrangement of Babe In The Manger.

Sebastian, who is only 15, has been particularly successful in solo contests in the last year and was able to display some of the trophies he had won.

Anne Hume presented her third reading with a Christmas Day In The Workhouse before the entire cornet section of the Junior Band - all eight of them - were featured in Away In A Manger.

Charlie Cox the resident choirmaster, had the audience on their feet for a lively version of Christmas Alphabet before they swayed as one to the rhythmic Schneewaltzer.

This entertaining and enjoyable concert drew to a close with a march containing Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

Predictably the audience wanted more and therefore Rudolph was reprised to give them one last singalong before they made their way home.

David Birch