RAF College band centenary concert dates cancelled

Raising welfare funds through the performance of live music by Royal Air Force musicians, owing to the impact of coronavirus, the RAF Music Charitable Trust has had to cancel the 2020 ‘RAF Music Centenary Tour’, which was to have celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Band of the RAF College from Cranwell.

Malcolm Goodman, founder and administrator of the charity said: “With concert venues around the country now closed, the charity has had no choice but to completely cancel the 2020 RAF Music Centenary tour, resulting in the loss of income from all 10 concerts. Such a decision has not been taken lightly, but with the ongoing uncertainty for the future of public events, all our live music performances for the year have had to now be cancelled.”

RAF Music Services and its associated charity have stated that even when venues re-open, continued social distancing requirements will make it impossible for such events to take place. Group transport for performers will be impossible, staging will also offer very limited space for performers, and audience seating could be greatly reduced.

Additionally, with the demographic of traditional military band audiences, most will be unwilling to consider purchasing tickets for any public event for many months. Consequently, even if a version of ‘normality’ returns later in the summer, Mr Goodman explained that all such performances would still remain both impractical and financially unviable.

The charity is not at financial risk, however the charity’s Board of Trustees has confirmed that following the impact of COVID-19, the RAF Music Charitable Trust is unlikely to have the incomne to provide its usual welfare support for other service charities.