Royal Woottn Bassett Orchestra's July the Fourth American concert that attracted a large, appreciative audience at the Memorial Hall on a very warm evening. Flags festooned the stage, and director Alan MacRae's colourful waistcoat reflected the theme of an excellent programme that opened with The Stars and Stripes Forever . Variations on a Shaker Melody (better known here as Lord of the Dance) were from Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring (a spring of water, not the season, the conductor revealed). Hoe Down, from the Rodeo Suite, The Liberty Bell March, selections from Oklahoma and West Side Story, The Big Country, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, On the Trail from the Grand Canyon Suite (arranged by Alan MacRae) and Broadway Showstoppers were performed with the expertise for which this amateur orchestra is noted, A selection from Woodland Sketches by Edward Macdowell, and the 1st Movement of Dvorak's New World Symphony added variety. Katie Walker, who is known as a flautist, idisplayed her skill on the saxophone in a thrilling rendition of Summertime, from Porgy and Bess.

Mr MacRae expressed the orchestra's thanks for the new music stands and podium, funded by the Area Board, whose chairman Allison Bucknell was in the audience. Raffle proceeds benefited Help for Heroes.

Stella Taylor