On the last Saturday of September 1914 the band, then Accrington Old Band, played as the newly recruited Accrington Pals Battalion marched past the Town Hall. Captain John Harwood, the Mayor of Accrington who had spearheaded the recruitment initiative, stood proudly in front of the building as the parade passed by.
This concert marks the events of exactly 100 years ago. It is in the form of an evening of entertainment that might have taken place at this venue at that time. Spirits were high and there was an air of patriotism and excitement.
It includes the world premiere performance of Letters for Home, a Symphonic Poem especially composed for this event by Dr. Peter Meechan.
Musical Director of the Accrington Pals Centenary Concert, which will be recorded by Radio Lancashire for broadcast at Christmas, is Dale Grindrod.
Before each movement of the new piece, there will be a reading. Dylan Owen, the "Bard of Oswaldtwistle" is one of the narrators. Feelgood Theatre Productions "Not About Heroes" actors Alisdair Craig, who plays Wilfred Owen and Simon Jenkins, who plays Siegfried Sassoon will deliver excerpts from their play and will be joined by Artistic Director Caroline Clegg who will read a piece by Vera Brittain.
The packed programme will also include an extract from Peter Whelan's play "Accrington Pals" to be performed by Oswaldtwistle Players.
There will be solo performances by singers Steve Taylor, Sophie Proctor and Stephanie Johnson.
"The Accrington Pals" will be performed by musician and song writer Ephy Clarke.
Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said; “The East Lancashire Concert Band has a rich and proud history linked with the Pals and this is set to be a superb event to mark the Centenary of when the newly recruited Accrington Pals Battalion marched past the Town Hall.”
Ian McGuinness of East Lancashire Concert Band said “It is a great privilege for us to be marking the momentous events in Accrington 100 years ago in which our Band predecessors were directly involved. We look forward to supporting the people of East Lancashire in their commemorations over the next four years.”
To apply for tickets, for this FREE event, visit the BBC Tickets website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/accrington_pals_concert_27sept14
For more information about East Lancashire Concert Band visit www.eastlancsconcertband.org.
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