KNOWN more for their reputation as fearless soldiers, the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas showed off their musical skills at a concert to support the Gurkha Welfare Trust at Tennants of Leyburn.

Originally raised in November 1859, the band was part of regimental life, playing for parades, polo matches, dinners and troop entertainment. It is now it is a highly-professional British military band supporting the Army and the Brigade of Gurkhas in ceremonial settings and other musical support tasks.

The concert’s sell-out audience was entertained by a variety of music which varied from military marches to musical theatre classics and Nepali.

The bandsmen showcased their skills with several individual and small group performances – and even to a dance display.

The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas in concert at Tennants, Leyburn

The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas in concert at Tennants, Leyburn

Following a break to peruse a display of the Gurkha Welfare Trust’s work, the concert resumed to the stirring sound of Gurkha pipers joining the band for a medley of Scottish tunes and followed-on with other classics.

The evening’s financial beneficiary was a planned refurbishment of the Shree Surya Primary School in Nepal. A guest of honour was a former Royal Navy sailor and Yorkshireman Richard Morton who has so far raised £33,356 out of a target of £50,000 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. He is walking 8,000 miles around the UK coastline; his JustGiving page is still open.

On behalf of the Ghurkha Welfare Trust, Lieutenant Colonel Keith Ryding reflected on a splendid night’s entertainment for an extremely worthy cause and thanked all those who had helped make the evening a success.

As a suitable finale the Regimental March of The Brigade of Gurkhas: “Yo Nepali” rounded off the concert.