WE are often fed a diet of negativity when it comes to young people today.

On Friday evening I had the honour and pleasure of conducting many of them in my Smithills Big Band at the Victoria Hall in a superb concert to raise many thousands of pounds for Rotary. The following day, a Saturday remember, a different 50 Smithills teenagers, my Senior Brass Band, bag packed with me for six hours in Morrison’s, resplendent in full band uniform, before giving a full evening concert in Farnworth to raise more funds for the RNLI. On Sunday, the same 50 young people returned to bag pack a further six hours with me in Morrison’s, again in full band uniform, to round off the weekend of raising much needed money to buy instruments. The praise and compliments we received from customers were numerous and fantastic and made me as proud as any of the countless competitions we have won.

There are a great many, superb young people today who are dedicated, loyal and committed and not only work very hard but happily give freely of their time on behalf of others. During the half term holiday, all of my Smithills bands will be in school rehearsing with me again in preparation for the ‘Keep The Victoria Hall Open’ concert on Saturday, October 29th. Yes, another Saturday to be given up and one during a school holiday too.

Chris Wormald

Musical Director, Smithills School