Foden's celebrate Jimmie's long service and 80th birthday!!!
To celebrate Jimmie Charles recent 80th birthday as well as his 64 years loyal service with Foden's, the occasion was celebrated with a composition from Andy Scott.
Speaking about the composition Andy commented 'Jimmie has been a part of the Foden's family for sixty-four years, as player (cornet, horn and baritone) and librarian. In my time as Composer-in-Residence with Foden's Jimmie became a good friend and I offered to write a piece of music that was dedicated to him. Jimmie always quietly sings a tune, he draws you in to listening, he just loves music.
My musical approach when writing this piece was to try and capture the softly and lyrically sung element of Jimmie. At the same time Jimmie is so loyal to Foden’s, displaying the selflessness that makes him much loved in the brass band world. At his home we would make our way to the end of his garden to sit in the sun with a beer whilst he would go into the shed and put an old vinyl brass band recording on his record player and tell stories.
Jimmie’s close friend, the incomparable Mark Wilkinson, filmed a demonstration video of ‘Of Good & Pure Souls’ with pianist Wendy Nugent recently and then gave the World premiere of the brass band version of ‘Of Good & Pure Souls’ with Foden’s, conducted by Michael Fowles at Sandbach Town Hall on 19th May in the presence of Jimmie.
