Historic band bring merry-making to Leamington

THE sounds and images of midnight carollers, wassailers and general seasonal merry-making will be conjured up by musicians at the Spa Centre in Leamington on Thursday.

The Mellstock Band, dressed in the rural Sunday best of the mid-19th century, will transport audiences back to the days of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex, using an array of instruments and readings from the writer’s novels.

Mellstock was the fictional name for Higher Bockhampton in Dorset, where Hardy was born and his family all played musical instruments, leading the church band and performing at local dances.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Richard Phillips, director of Leamington Music, which is organising the event with the Spa Centre, said: “For years past, I have put on the Mellstock Band at Christmas time in the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick and the concerts always sold out. It is really good that this splendid evening’s entertainment will come to Leamington this year.”

Tickets for the concert, which starts at 8pm, cost £12.50 and include mulled wine and mince pies during the interval. Call 334418 or 776438 or go online.

www.royalspacentreandtownhall.co.uk