IT was a case of ‘Brass under glass’ as rain threatened to dampen spirits at Walton Gardens Jubilee Big Lunch last Sunday.
As part of the Walton Gardens Jubilee Big Lunch celebrations, local photographer Andrew Gilbert was invited to put together a photographic exhibition about the Glasshouses Refurbishment Project at the gardens.
Andrew said: “I had been photographing and recording the derelict structures since 2013. I was the project photographer during the refurbishment – April 2018 to Oct 2019. The exhibition, showing the dereliction, clearing and recovering of some of the building materials and works in progress was set up in the Vinery in the glasshouses complex.
“There was planned entertainment outside and at 12 noon as the rain returned we had a ladies choir and despite the wet and cold, Sing your Socks Off choir began the afternoon activities with an appropriate song- ‘singing in the rain’. At 12.45 over 30 members of the Warrington Brass (complete with full drum kit) tried to cram under the Gazebo on the stage but without success as those left ousted found their sheet music beginning to dissolve in the rain.
“Somehow we needed a plan B. So let’s highjack the Vinery! Half of it was occupied by the Choir having their picnic lunch and the other half by the exhibition. But what the heck, needs must and I invited the band in out of the cold and wet to set up the best they could and they found a cozy warm space to occupy for their 2 performances of the afternoon.
Andrew added: “There wasn’t much visitor traffic for the exhibition but the band members got a grandstand view of it. The acoustics were marvellous and the band sounded wonderful! The audience sat themselves under the Gazebo on the stage outside or huddled next to the door and the ladies of the choir next door had a wonderful concert – all warm and dry!”
For more pictures CLICK HERE
