Tonbridge’s Community Concert welcomes more than 200 guests

Tonbridge’s Community Concert attracted its largest audience to date with more than 200 local senior citizens welcomed to the School on Tuesday 28 February.

Many guests arrived by School minibus or were collected by staff and parent volunteers. Those attending were looked after by a team of 50 Third Year boys, who volunteer each week with Tonbridge Community Action.

The evening was expertly compèred by Nick Samuel (WH5) and Siwei Han (PH5) and saw a variety of performances from more than 50 of the School’s musicians. Those entertaining the guests included Senior Strings, the Brass Quintet, the Vengerov String Quartet, a Piano Trio, the Perlman String Quartet, the Clarinet Quartet and the ever popular Big Band.

Over interval tea and cakes, served to guests by Tonbridge boys, there was a raffle as well as special awards for a guest who has lived in Tonbridge the longest (94 years) and for the most senior guest (99 years).

The second half took a different direction musically, as the leads from the recent School production of Les Misérables took to the stage, including students from Hillview School for Girls, Tonbridge Grammar School and Weald of Kent Grammar School. Their performances were met with a standing ovation.

The Mayor of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Mrs Sue Bell, offered her thanks to all the musicians as well as to the organisers of the evening.

Sarah Walker, Tonbridge Community Action Assistant, said: “It was such a heart-warming evening, with so many local people coming together to enjoy each other’s company and to see young people making music. One of the guests told me: ‘I’ve been coming to this event for years, but this was one the of the best ever!’

“We’re grateful to the musicians, staff and parents who gave up their time to make this event such memorable one for members of our community. For many of us it is one of the highlights of the School year.”