One of the region’s top brass bands is hoping for a festive treat of its own when it performs some seasonal favourites for Christmas shoppers.
The historic Royal Buckley Brass Band will be accepting donations to help pay for the upkeep of their band room and to replace a flat roof.
The band will be performing at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham alongside the Glyndwr University Community Choir on Thursday, December 18.
Shoppers will be able to join in the carol singing around the shopping centre’s giant Christmas tree as song sheets will be handed out ahead of the community event.
The band was formed in 1822 and is only one of four brand bands in the UK to be allowed to use the “Royal” title – the others are the Royal Oakley from Blaenau Ffestiniog, the Nantlle Vale Royal and the Royal Doulton from the Potteries.
Chair Steve Pugh Jones is delighted the band has been invited to once again perform at Eagles Meadow.
He said: “Eagles Meadow is one of our favourite venues as we always get a good reception and it’s such a joy to play there. There is always a tremendous atmosphere.”
“We will not be collecting for charity and any donations we receive will go toward the upkeep of our band room. We have just completed a re-wiring project and fitted central heating and now need to replace a flat roof.
“The band, which was originally formed in 1822, continues going from strength to strength with around 30 active senior members and a strong and growing youth section of around 20 members.
“Christmas is always a majorly busy time and we are literally out every day in the run up to Christmas. And on Christmas morning we are out playing around old people’s homes in and around the Buckley area.
“We look forward to welcoming shoppers to Eagles Meadow and, hopefully, we will get people joining in with carols. We are also pleased to be performing with the Glyndwr University Community Choir.”
Howard Moysen, chair of the Glyndwr University Community Choir says around 20 of the choir’s 40 or so active singers will be performing carols at Eagles Meadow.
He said: “The choir began in 2009 and is made up of students, university staff and anyone from the community living in the vicinity of the university that enjoys singing and wants to get involved.
“We are an amateur choir that sings to professional standards and we perform at a number of concerts throughout the year. This is the third time we have been invited to sing at Eagles Meadow and we are delighted to have been able to accept that invitation.”
He added: “It’s always a special occasion and shoppers really enjoy the event and take part. We will be handing out song sheets so there will be no excuse for not joining in!
”Singing carols under a giant Christmas tree, accompanied by our friends from the Royal Buckley Brass Band, really gets people in the festive mood. It’s a lovely occasion and fast becoming something of a tradition at Eagles Meadow.”
Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley is really looking forward to the event.
He said: “It really is a lovely atmosphere and what could be better than singing carols under a Christmas tree to get people in the festive mood. Our customers always look forward to the event and we have had lots of people asking when the event will be.
“You could say both the Royal Buckley Brass Band and the Glyndwr University Community Choir are back by popular demand.”
“I will certainly be collecting my song sheet and joining in with the carols. I can’t think of a better, nor more traditional, way to get into the Christmas mood and I’m sure it’s going to be, once again, a lovely occasion.”
The Christmas carol sing-a-long event will take place on the last Thursday late night shopping evening before Christmas, on December 18 between 6:30-7.30pm around the Eagles Meadow Christmas tree (near to Starbucks).
