On Saturday evening July 1st, only six days after we performed completely different music at the Darwen march and hymn tune contest, we returned to performing indoors with our 2023 Summer “Hollywood Movies” concert at Bridge Church in Bolton. Together with our Community Choir and Community Band after the interval, our MD Chris Wormald led the evening as ever to a packed, sell-out audience of enthusiastic family, friends and our many loyal supporters, with Peter Lloyd of Bridge Church saying he had “never seen the hall so full, ever” and praising not only the outstanding standard, presentation and organisation of the entire evening but the “amazing team of people” we have.

In the presence of Joan Bohan from the Provincial Walsh Trust For Bolton and Councillor Steve Chadwick, Mayor of Horwich 2022-2023, the whole concert featured film music ranging from Harry Potter and Raiders of The Lost Ark to West Side Story, Batman and Back To The Future, as well as the iconic 20th Century Fox Fanfare, The Great Escape and many more. Eagley Band President Gerry Russell, remarkably now into his 80th year, greeted the many hundreds of audience members as they arrived in bright sunshine at the venue and presented the raffle as always with Chris towards the end of the concert, during which the video screens displayed still photographs of the band and choir from many recent concerts, posters of all the films being featured as their music was being played and a variety of excellent slide shows and montages all put together brilliantly by our Timpani player Dom Patel. Although there were no moving pictures or videos shown during the evening, the packed audience was kept entertained throughout not only by the outstanding performances of the bands, choir and our MD, but by constantly changing photos and colour posters. Everyone really enjoyed the band’s decision to dispense with our usual, formal blazers for all and invite ladies to wear black attire of their choice and men to wear the band black shirts and Eagley bow ties without the badged blazers.

Another great Eagley evening was enjoyed by everyone at Bridge Church on Saturday, performers and audience alike, and without doubt we look forward to returning there in the future if the atmosphere and audience replicate our first, superb experience at the venue.