Rushen Silver Band performed a hugely successful Gala Concert on 13th October in aid of the Alistair Drinkwater Memorial Fund.

The Fund was set up by Eric and Barbara Drinkwater over ten years ago following the loss of their son Alistair Drinkwater to cancer aged just 14 years old.  Alistair was a hugely popular member of local brass band Rushen Silver Band, and is still much missed.  The Fund was set up to help provide musical education to the young people of the south of the island through workshop weekends and concerts undertaken by professional musicians.  In the course of providing funding for these concerts and workshops, Alistair’s Fund has enabled the Band to raise a large amount of money for cancer charities both on and off island including Isle Of Man Anti Cancer, Claire House Children’s Hospice and CLIC Sargent amongst others.

The concert on 13th October at Castle Rushen High School saw the Band conducted by their Musical Advisor Richard Evans, and also featured Kirsty Abbotts as guest soloist on Cornet.  Richard Evans is one of the most charismatic figures in the brass band world at present, while Kirsty is the current principal cornet at championship section Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band.  Both enjoyed success at last year’s Brass In Concert Championship; with Kirsty picking up the award for Best Soloist, while Richard won the overall contest conducting the Leyland Band.

Over 160 people turned out to hear the varied programme by the Band, which featured four solo features by Kirsty and also a duet with the band’s own principal cornet Jennifer Cook.

The event raised nearly £1,500 in aid of Alistair’s Fund, which will enable further workshop weekends and concerts to take place, helping the young people of the island to develop their musical abilities and in turn raising money for cancer charities.  Everyone at Rushen Silver Band hopes that such a positive memorial is one with which Alistair would approve and be very proud.