A CONCERT to celebrate West Mercia Police Band reaching a milestone anniversary is being held at Pershore Abbey.

The West Mercia Police Band will be joined by Rock Choir at the 30th anniversary concert on Saturday, October 20.

The band was originally formed in 1987 as the Band of West Mercia Constabulary and since then has established a reputation for both top class musical performance and community work.

In that time, the band has raised almost £500,000 for a range of worthy causes. Highlights in the band’s history include fundraising for Sri Lanka after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, raising £40,000 for Cancer Research in partnership with Victoria Wood, twice qualifying for the National Brass Band Championships in their section, and frequently appearing at the prestigious Birmingham Symphony Hall.

The compere for the evening is BBC presenter Joanne Malin.

The evening is a double celebration as the concert is being staged in support of Acorns Children’s Hospice - also celebrating its 30th anniversary - and all proceeds will go to Acorns.

Richard Waterhouse, the band’s chairman, said: “The gala concert promises to be a fantastic evening in a really good cause the band’s ethos of taking music into the community, raising funds for charities and encouraging young people through music is as relevant today as when we first started.” He thanked Rock Choir, Joanne Malin, sponsor PRFM of Redditch, and Worcester Severn Rotary Club.

Tickets for the concert cost £10 and are available at Blue, 19 Broad Street, Pershore, or Worcester Live Box Office Huntingdon Hall, by calling 01905 611427 or visiting worcesterlive.co.uk.

Anyone interested in joining the band should call 07534904123.

The concert starts from 7.30pm.