Brentwood and Ongar’s Member of Parliament, Alex Burghart, has presented Brentwood Imperial Youth Band with a letter from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak MP, offering condolences on the death of the band’s founder, John Wyndham MBE, in July.
The presentation was made to John Wyndham’s son, JP Wyndham, at the band’s final Christmas concert of the year, with band members, family and friends watching.
Alex said: “Since I was elected in 2017, I have seen the Brentwood Imperial Youth Band musicians take part in Remembrance Day Parades each year, the King’s Coronation Festival in Brentwood, and the concert for Ukraine. They are, without exception, talented, disciplined and extremely fortunate to have had as their founder, John Wyndham, whom I have described as a ‘modern hero’.
“It was fitting for the Prime Minister to offer his condolences about the loss of someone who has brought so much joy and pride to Brentwood and I was honoured to be able to present JP with the framed letter at the band’s Christmas concert.”
JP Wyndham who has taken over as band director, received the framed letter. He said:
“Other dads took their kids to play football; mine set up a band. I was very surprised to receive a letter of condolence from the Prime Minister – it arrived on the day of Dad’s funeral and I read it out at the service. As I said at the Christmas concert, Dad was always the first to clap and cheer at the end of each piece, and I missed hearing that. I am very proud of what he did, and the legacy he has left for music and young people in Brentwood.”
The framed letter will hang in the Band Hall, adding to the memories and history of the band and for future band members to see.
