SWING BAND AND BOUNCING BOMBS

Vyners Swing Band leader Perry Parsons MBE has been busy as ever this year.  At another brilliant concert on 6th February, he is seen here thanking the audience for contributing nearly £1,250, which, with Barclays’ £750 donation meant almost £2,000 was raised on behalf of the Haiti Disaster Fund. 

Perry also appeared on our TV screens in a recent edition of the Antiques Roadshow, filmed at Brooklands Museum in Surrey.  In the programme Perry and his mum talked about Perry’s dad, Beck, who served as an electrician in the RAF.  Beck was specially selected for 617 Squadron, where he helped maintain the fleet of Lancasters flown by Guy Gibson and Micky Martin, among others.  He had the distinction of working with Barnes Wallis, inventor of the ‘bouncing bomb’, assisting with its development in what became known as the ‘Dambusters’ operation. 

The Roadshow experts were very interested in the book Perry took along - his dad’s first edition of Paul Brickhill’s The Dam Busters, published in 1951.  At a reunion, Beck had collected signatures of over 50 members of the squadron in the book, and Barnes Wallis had signed it too. 

There’s no rest for Perry this month either, as the band swing back into action with their Annual Spring Charity Event at Vyners at 2.30pm on Sunday 28th March.  It’s a ‘Free to get in, Pay to get out’ event, with entry by free ticket.  Book early via pparsons@hillingdongrid.org or by calling 01895 234342 or 07786 152915. 

 

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER - FRIDAY 5TH MARCH

This year, the women of Cameroon have prepared a service, “Let everything that has breath praise God”, to be celebrated in 170 countries during Women’s World Day of Prayer.  Locally, the service for Ickenham and Ruislip will be held at 2pm at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, in Pembroke Road, Ruislip.  Although the service has been initiated by women, the invitation to attend is warmly extended to all – men and women, young and old.  Please come along, and stay on afterwards, when refreshments will be served in the Church Hall.

 

ORGAN DONORS WANTED!

At two events at the URC this month we will be celebrating the recent restoration of the church organ.  Come along and enjoy the new, improved sound – and help us to pay for it!

On Thursday 11th March at 8pm, organist Richard Hobson will be joined by musicians from Merchant Taylors’ School in producing ‘Music For Organ and Voices’.  Tickets are £8 in advance, and can be purchased from the Church Office, or by calling 01895 678569 or 01895 674223.  On the door, it will cost £10 (although children of school age will be admitted for free.)

Then on Saturday 27th March, Peter Williams has organised an Organ Marathon.  He, along with several other organists, will be keeping the music coming over a ten hour period between 9am and 7pm!  Please do come along to listen, to join in with some hymn singing – and to sponsor their efforts.

 

VERDI’S REQUIEM

You may be interested to know that Kings College London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus are giving a performance of Verdi’s Requiem at Cadogan Hall near Sloane Square, on Sunday 21st March at 7pm.  Produced by final year student Jonathan Coates, (grandson of Peggy and Clarence King, and whom some may recall producing the wonderful music at Clarence’s funeral last year), the performance is raising money for Integrated Cancer Care.  For ticket details, contact the box office on 020 7730 4500 or visit www.cadoganhall.com

 

DONATIONS

Receipt is acknowledged, with grateful thanks, for a donation towards the cost of ICN, from:

Anon via Editor

Copy for the April issue should be with the team by 12 noon on 13th March. 

 

HILLINGDON MUSICAL SOCIETY presents DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The London Amateur Premiere The Beck Theatre Wed 24th – Sat 27th March at 7.30pm (also Saturday matinee at 2.30pm) Tickets from £10 to £15 available from Box Office 01895 639769 or Online at www.hillingdonmusicalsociety.co.uk