MEMBERS of a popular concert band are busy polishing their trumpets and shining their tubas as they limber up to perform a special fundraising concert for Brighter Futures.

Swindon Concert Band will take to the stage at the Memorial Hall in Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday, July 1, in a bid to help bring radiotherapy treatment to Swindon.

The 40-piece band, which describes itself as “a vibrant and award-winning amateur wind band,” will wow audiences with classic tunes from Gershwin and Glenn Miller, to name just a couple in the repertoire.

Janice Pattinson, clarinet player and band secretary, said she and her fellow band members were very much looking forward to the concert, and raising as much money as they could for the Brighter Futures Radiotherapy Appeal.

She said: “We are very excited about the concert. It is going to be a really good one with a wide range of music played.

“There will be something for all ages and all tastes.”

The band, which has been creating music together for almost 50 years, usually performs around six fundraising concerts every year for a variety of good causes.

Janice, who has played the clarinet since the tender age of 11, said that as well as the benefits to the charities of their fundraising efforts, the band members also got a lot out of performing.

She said: “We play really good music and the band is like a family.

“It’s a good place to go and lose yourself after working all day.

“Anybody can join, we are very welcoming. We have people of all ages, from teenagers to 80 years plus.”

Speaking about the need to bring radiotherapy to Swindon, Janice said: “When you are ill, going all the way to Oxford and back every day must be awful.

“It’s such a long way to go for treatment and the sooner we get a radiotherapy unit in Swindon the better it will be for everybody.”

There will be a bar and a raffle for the concert goers with all proceeds going to Brighter Futures.

Tickets cost £8 for adults and children are admitted free if they are accompanied by an adult.

For tickets, email tickets@swindonconcertband.co.uk.

The band rehearses once a week in Royal Wootton Bassett. Janice said: “That’s our home, despite being called the Swindon Concert Band.”

So far £1,539,135 has been raised for Brighter Futures. The team is very grateful for every single donation and wish to thank everyone for their support.

To donate you can send cut out and send in the attached form or log on to: www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk.