Bancroft's School Muscians 26th September 2024

BANCROFT’S SCHOOL MUSICIANS

visit the Friends of Royal London Hospital Music Project to

COMMEMORATE DANIEL ANJORIN & THE VICTIMS OF KNIFE CRIME

Their music teacher Rebecca Raw is on the extreme right and the account of their recital (below) was written by Richard Gardner.

‘In a recital that was originally scheduled for early May, we were delighted to welcome the students of Bancroft's School to play for us in the hospital foyer. The reason for the delay was the tragic loss of the life of 14-year old Daniel Anjorin on 30th April - a victim of a fatal sword attack in Hainault. The planned recital was therefore abandoned. In Daniel's memory, today's recital was dedicated to him, and to the equally tragic loss of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, the University of Nottingham student who was also a former pupil at Bancroft's. Today's students participated to commemorate the lives of these former students and all other victims of knife crime.

In a warm welcoming address, Royal London and Mile End Hospitals' Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Neil Ashman thanked the pupils for their visit and welcomed them and their school to strengthen the ties that make the Royal London Hospital an integral part of the community. He pointed out that there are many Bancroft's graduates who serve the hospital and contribute their skills and expertise for the benefit of its patients, and he hoped these relationships would continue and prosper.

There followed a varied programme of excellent solo vocal and instrumental performances from the eight pupils who attended: song, violin, piano, clarinet, and saxophone. Sadly, we cannot record and name all of them, and it was very difficult to choose a single piece to upload to YouTube.... So, by default, here is the final performance - which effectively was presented as an encore - a lively and jazzy piece on saxophone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CflUBA4v02o

The students were an absolute credit to their school, and - under the supportive musical direction of Julia Whitbread and Rebecca Raw, and with a very sympathetic piano accompanist - the standard of music they sang and played was impressive; and an enthusiastic crowd showed their appreciation with heartfelt applause after each piece.

Thank you to all for braving this rather forbidding public space and sharing your musical talents so generously with the hospital. We hope to see you back for a reprise before too long’.

Prof. Trevor Beedham. President. 26.9.24