25th September 2007
MAYOR AND MAYORESS ATTEND A CONCERT IN AID OF THE ROYAL STAR AND GARTER HOMES
The Mayor and Mayoress of Solihull, Cllr Gary and Mrs Gail Allport, attended a rousing concert given by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, at Solihull Arts Complex on Sunday 23rd September in aid of The Royal Star & Garter Homes for Disabled Ex-Service Men and Women.
The first half of the programme was an eclectic selection of classical, novelty, and marching music concluding with the famous “Star Wars” theme, and amply demonstrated the Band’s renowned skills and versatility. After the interval the Band resumed with a swing spectacular followed by the musical fireworks of the 1812 overture, and then had the enthusiastic audience on its feet singing “Land of Hope and Glory” and “Rule Britannia”.
The Band has recently returned from the Falkland Islands where they supported the 25th anniversary commemorations of the conflict. It was therefore particularly appropriate that the guest of honour at the concert was Falklands veteran Simon Weston OBE.
Simon was given a wholehearted welcome when he came onto the stage to speak about the work of The Royal Star & Garter Charity of which he is a Vice President. He explained that in 2008 the Charity is opening a new care home for disabled ex-Service men and women in Monkspath Hall Road, Solihull. Residents and staff at the Solihull home will become an integral part of the community and will be providing local job opportunities as well as working with community groups and volunteers to help run the very varied activities programme and fundraising events.
Simon also thanked the RAF Benevolent Fund which has most generously made a £2 million lead gift to the Charity’s 90th Anniversary Appeal to be used to fund the Dementia Care Wing at the new Solihull home. He also thanked the Army Cadets of the Haslucks Green battalion who handed out programmes, directed guests to their seats, and took a collection in aid of the Charity which the audience supported most generously.
Speaking after the concert Simon said “We have been warmly welcomed by the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and by the people of Solihull, and tonight was no exception. We are very grateful to the Band of the Royal Marines who have been travelling and playing for nearly 24 hours to give two concerts in aid of the Charity, and to the people of Solihull who came to give us their kind support. We look forward to many similar events in the future.”
About the Royal Star & Garter Charity – founded in 1916.
The Royal Star & Garter Charity has been caring for disabled ex-Service personnel since 1916. The Charity offers the best in nursing and therapeutic care for anyone who is physically disabled or incapacitated and has served in Her Majesty’s Forces, and also to their spouses and partners. There are also a wide variety of leisure activities available for residents to enjoy, both internally and at outside venues. The Royal Star & Garter Charity is embarking on an ambitious and wide-reaching project to build new homes, in the South West London area and elsewhere, to provide specialist care for elderly disabled ex-Service people in the best modern surroundings and, for the first time, will include a specialist dementia care wing to address this growing need. The first of these prestigious new homes will open in Solihull, the West Midlands, in the summer of 2008
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For further information about The Royal Star & Garter Homes for Disabled Ex-Service Men and Women please contact:
Susan Harley, Marketing & Communications Manager
Tel: 020 8439 8118
Email: sue.harley@starandgarter.org