After a break due to pandemic, Sandbach Party in the Park returned on Saturday and welcomed a capacity crowd of 500 people, the maximum allowed in the park for the event.
However, many were disappointed as the event sold out at about 6.45pm with people being turned away (writes Stewart Green). This was a first for the event at such an early time in the evening. Those who had booked tickets on-line or managed to get in early enjoyed a wonderful concert by the Sandbach School Big Band opening with Let Me
Entertain You followed by a trip through the 60s and 70s catalogue via Stevie Wonder’s Living for the City, Michael Jackson’s Beat It, The Beatles’ Day Tripper and ELO’s Mr Blue Sky, among the classic songs.
The first part of the concert ended with Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, a special audience participation song. For the big band it was the end of an era as many of its members were making their final appearance before going on to university, college or work after the summer break.
After a short break to change music stands and equipment from Sandbach School to Foden’s Band, the red tunics appeared on stage to start where Sandbach School had left off with a Neil Diamond hit, this time from the movie The Jazz Singer and the song America.
Foden’s took the audience on a trip through the musicals, both obvious with a selection from Mack and Mabel and a lovely solo by Melanie Wyle on flugel horn from Jesus Christ Superstar, I Don’t Know How to Love Him, to the not so obvious version of California Dreaming in a beautiful arrangement from the film San Andreas adapted for the singer Sia and arranged for brass band by Taylor.
The event ended as usual with a Last Night of the Proms selection, with firework accompaniment as the sun set on a summer evening.
Sandbach mayor Coun Kathryn Flavell said the town council was “delighted” to provide its Party in the Park event in this its 10th year and after a two-year hiatus due to covid.
She added: “Clearly the event has been missed by the community who turned up in their hundreds to enjoy the good weather and fabulous entertainment. We were inundated with partygoers from the gates opening at 5pm and tickets sold out quickly after the start of the event, so we were saddened to have to turn away a few disappointed customers at this point to adhere to capacity guidelines.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to all those who contributed and played their part in making this brilliant event so enjoyable and successful – a great example of what we can achieve when the community comes together.”
The first Party in the Park was held on 5th June 2012 to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee, in this her platinum jubilee year it was nice to know it has become a traditional part of Sandbach life and, like the Queen, long may it continue.
