A military band has made a successful return to a town as it performed its first concert in four years.
The RAF Swing Wing showcased popular numbers at Wisbech’s Thomas Clarkson Academ.”y on Saturday, which band leader Sgt Duncan Opie says “was like coming home”.
Made up of 20 full-time service musicians and part of the college band at RAF Cranwell, their role is to provide music for duties such as Officer Graduation Parades, Changing the Guard and Military Tattoos.
The group played traditional songs from the likes of Glen Miller, Count Basie and Hoagy Carmichael as well as more modern pieces by The Beatles and South American rhythms in front of the town’s mayor Cllr Peter Human and many others.
“We are always made very welcome and we enjoy playing in this hall,” Sgt Opie added.
“RAF bands are extremely busy at the moment and that looks likely to continue for some time but we will always try to fit in a visit to Wisbech and we would certainly like to come back in 2025 - we hope this can be arranged.”
In previous years, the concert has been cancelled due to the pandemic and other unavoidable factors but it was safe to say the musicians were missed after they received a standing ovation for Vocalist Philippa Fourie, who performed the song “Alfie”.
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