London to Kirkbymoorside bike ride

[p] After only a thirty year hiatus, I dusted off my trumpet and starting playing for the Community section of the Kirkbymoorside Town Band and I absolutely love it. It's amazing that a town the size of Kirkbymoorside can field the number of players that you see in the picture. All training sections of the band receive free membership, free tuition and free loan of an instrument. A new purpose-built band room to accommodate over 100 players across six bands and ensembles for rehearsal and performance is clearly a worthwhile cause but it's very much a practical necessity too.[/p][p]Travelling from North Yorkshire to London to see friends and family and for work over many years has often made me wonder about doing the journey on a bike, though perhaps not on the A1... Helping raise funds to finish the new band room provides an excellent excuse to finally do it. [/p][p]Many of you reading this will have heard members of the Senior Band playing ‘Scarborough Fair’ for my Mum’s funeral service. The piece was rehearsed and performed at barely a moment’s notice during the Christmas holidays. It is something I will never forget or be able to adequately say thank you for. Not so very many years before, the musicians who played on that day had all trained in the Kirkbymoorside band and today they are leading it into its exciting new era.[/p][p] Love of playing music, great loyalty to its home town and a very can-do attitude has seen the Kirkbymoorside Town Band through two centuries of making music, it has trained generations of players, and continues to provide free tuition to 100 learners each weekend. [/p][p]I will set off from King's Cross Station on Saturday 22nd June and will aim to arrive back in Kirkbymoorside the following day. The total distance will be roughly 230 miles and because I’m travelling from south to north, it will be entirely uphill![/p][p]Whatever you are able to donate, you can be certain that you will be helping people of all ages to continue to make music together. Thanks very much.[/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p] [/p]