Ambitious 22in22 engagements target is achieved by Bathgate Youth Band

At the start of this year, Bathgate Youth Band set out an ambitious plan to complete 22 public performances during 2022. It was a target created to make up for all the lost engagements in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.

“I’m sure everyone in the banding world would agree that this was a very challenging aspiration,” declared band president Derek Brown.

“Covid-19 cancelled almost all of our planned activities in the previous two years but we had no intention of letting it spoil 2022 if we could possibly avoid it.”

The 22in22 initiative took the form of a mixture of small outdoor performances, in the Bathgate community, as well as the band’s usual programme of concerts and contests.

22in22 started out on a cold and frosty evening in February outside the Pyramid Centre, Bathgate, with a performance to say ‘thank you’ to the vaccination centre staff who helped return life to normal and make the band’s target even remotely possible.

From there Bathgate Youth Band members went on to perform at numerous supermarkets, raising contributions for food banks as well as contributing to the Poppy Scotland event at a Morrisons supermarket in Carmondean, Livingston, and various other community events.

“There are too many to list all 22 engagements, but the highlights must be the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Union Canal at the Linlithgow Canal Society as well as the Bathgate Hills Venture story telling event at which we complimented the stage production with our brass music,” Derek said.

Tonight (Monday) Bathgate Youth Band will join Bathgate Band at St Mary’s Church, Livery Street, Bathgate, for its 23rd and final performance of the year, overrunning the original 22in22 target.

A proud Derek added: “We look forward to 2023 with anticipation and would like to extend our thanks to all those who made our 2022 a successful year – and no, we are not going for 23in23!”