| Summer BBQ & Concert | ||
| Date | 18-07-2009 | |
| Description | Southampton band, The Strand (www.the-strand.net), have a proud history of supporting local charities, having raised tens of thousands of pounds for a variety of local good causes in the past. This year, the Smile4Rich Appeal was chosen to benefit from the proceeds of the band's Summer BBQ and concert, which was staged at Deerleap Farm, near Ashurst. The farm is home to the band's drummer, Steve Godfrey, who has first-hand experience of the Wessex Neurological Centre having undergone treatment for an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) between 2002 and 2009. He and his fellow band members were determined to put on a great show, and to raise as much as possible for the appeal. A team of volunteers transformed the gardens, not only building a stage on which to perform, but providing covered areas under which the audience could shelter should the weather not be kind. And on the day, it looked like that cover may be needed, but the clouds parted and over 400 attendees enjoyed were treated to a pleasant summer evening. Several large BBQs had been set on which guests could cook their own food, and the aroma of charcoal smoke was soon replaced by that of gently sizzling chicken, ribs and sausages. As the sun started to dip, the garden came alive with strings of lights in the trees and, as the last of the guests were tucking into their suppers, The Strand took to the specially built stage. Their first set, which included covers of songs by Simply Red, Oasis and Bryan Adams (to name but a few), was followed by an auction of some unique and sought after lots, including an electric guitar which alone raised over £700 for the charity, and the raffle draw saw the lucky first prize winner walk off with a 32” Samsung HD LCD TV which had been generously donated by Brian & Chris Robinson. The Strand's second set began, and the impromptu dance floor in front of the stage was soon packed as guests danced to a succession of rip-roaring covers of the likes of Wilson Pickett's 'Mustang Sally', Robbie Williams' 'Let Me Entertain You', Katrina & The Waves' 'Walking on Sunshine' and Ricky Martin's 'La Vida Loca'. The band even performed, as a special tribute to Michael Jackson, their own arrangement of 'Billy Jean'. Encores followed, but all too soon it was close to midnight and 400 plus people drifted away to reflect on what had been a memorable night at Deerleap Farm. The event proved to be a resounding success for the charity too, with just over £5,000 raised on the night. However, this amount is likely to be doubled thanks to generous 'matched-funding' from Southampton company, BAT (British American Tobacco), who employ a number of the band members and organisers of the event, thus bringing the anticipated total raised to in excess of £10,000. We'd especially like to thank Steve Godfrey and his wife, Lucy, the other members of the band, and all the volunteers who gave up their time in order to make the event the success it was. |
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