Free concert sounds big presence of Foresters Friendly Society in Southport
A free brass band concert will trumpet the presence of hundreds of members of the Foresters Friendly Society in Southport. The organisation is holding its annual general meeting in the Town from Saturday, 13 June to Monday, 15 June 2015, and has invited along the award winning Foresters Brass 2000 to entertain townsfolk and delegates. The ensemble will perform at the bandstand, on Lord Street, Southport, between 12.45pm and 1.45pm, on Sunday, 14 June 2015. It will form part of the 3 day conference that will see some 500 Foresters members flock to the Town to discuss the activities that the organisation plans to undertake in the year ahead. Band chairman Helen Parker-Bates said:- "It is an honour to play as part of the annual general meeting of the Foresters and we hope that the people of Southport and our members enjoy the performance." Foresters has around 200 regional branches with each 1 organising social events such as coffee mornings, theatre trips, dinner dances and charity fundraising. It also provides members with Tax exempt savings products, investment bonds and life insurance policies. Foresters Friendly Society chief executive Paul Osborn said:- "We expect that more than 500 Foresters members will be in Southport and inviting Foresters Brass 2000 is a good way to entertain our delegates and offer something to the Town that's hosting our event. It was 4 years ago that our annual general meeting was last held in Southport and we're really pleased to be back. The Floral Hall is a magnificent setting to hold our conference so we think new delegates will be impressed and it is sure to be a popular choice with those who have been before. With so many people visiting the Town, I expect local hotels and restaurants will benefit from our stay." Officially founded in the 18th Century, long prior to the welfare state, the friendly society was designed to help its members in the event that they fell on hard times. Today, the organisation continues to be run as a mutual for the benefit of its members. The closest branch to Southport is in Ashton-in-Makerfield, near Wigan.
