Could you help sponsor a uniform for a marching band?

This is the appeal from a thriving new group celebrating its first year with a concert on August 19.

Essex Marching Corps is staging the celebration, which includes an awards evening and disco, from 6.30pm to 11pm at Appleton School, Croft Road, Benfleet.

The corps currently has 40 members, aged from seven to 20, who play instruments including trumpets, cornets and flutes.

They led Basildon Carnival and will be playing from an open top bus at Southend Carnival on August 21.

Corps director Hayley Vincent, 22, of High Road, Benfleet, said: "We wanted to try modernising the marching band so children weren't squeezed into the old formats.

"We are trying to put a modern slant on it so we have been playing tunes by people like George Michael."

Anyone wanting to join the corps, or who could sponsor a uniform, should ring Hayley on 07880 980725.

Tickets for the concert are £5 for adults and £3.50 for concessions on the door.

Published Thursday August 12, 2004

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