The RAF Squadronaires played Dorking Halls on September 23rd 2011 to support Help for Heroes and the Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Patient Welfare Fund
The Royal Air Force’s premier and one of the UK’s finest big bands, The RAF Squadronaires, played a packed Dorking Halls on Friday 23rd September 2011 in a charity concert organised by the Lions clubs of Surrey, to raise funds for Help for Heroes and Headley Court Patient Welfare Fund.
The Squadronaires, who didn't charge for the concert, played two full sets including numbers from Glenn Miller and Jimmy Webb's MacArthur Park. All of the members of the Squadronaires are top class musicians and all take a turn with solos throughout the evening.
The Surrey Lions clubs are delighted to announce that £9,500 has been raised by the concert and this money will be distributed to Help for Heroes and the Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Patient Welfare Fund.
The Surrey Lions clubs would like to thank the RAF Squadronaires, Dorking Halls and everybody that supported or helped make the concert a success.
The history of the Squadronaires can be traced back to the Second World War when in 1939 the RAF created the band using some professional musicians to raise morale and entertain the troops.
The band became a household name playing concerts, broadcasting on the BBC and recording under the Decca label. Following the first broadcast in January 1941 a Melody Maker critic said Any of you lucky enough to hear this airing will, I am sure will agree... that this is the greatest dance band performance that has ever been broadcast this side of the Atlantic.
The musical excellence of the original band lives on today with the current band members lead since 2007 by percussionist Sergeant Kevin Miles.
Disbanded in 1964, increase in popularity of Big Band music lead to the band reforming in 1985 as The Royal Air Force Squadronaires. Some of the original members were present at the band’s launch in 1987, including the original band leader Jimmy Miller who conducted the band’s theme tune There’s Something in the Air.
Since 1987 the band has recorded four albums, had numerous TV and radio appearances and performed at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance and for HRH the Prince of Wales.
All RAF musicians are also required to support British Forces on overseas operations and have been deployed to Afghanistan, The Falkland Islands, Iraq and Turkey.