Sunday, 8 June 2025

Mill Hill Music Festival Diary - Day 7 The BBC Elstree Concert Band at Hartley Hall

 It's done. It's over. It's nearly 1pm on Sunday as I write this. Looking back on the week, it has been exhillarating, inspiring, exciting and absolute bloody knackering. I am off in a minute to pick up the van, remove the staging etc from Hartley Hall and pack it up back at the studios storeoom. That will be that for me. Clare will produce a final budget and we'll have a helpers drink in the Autumn. That will be it, until next June when we will decide whether we will do it again in 2027!

So last night? Another sell out night and an amazing band. A fine selection of film music, including 633 Squadron, The music of Carry On! and the Lion King. We had a visit from Councillor Danny Rich, the Mayor of Barnet, who thoroughly enjoyed the festival and meeting some of the wondeful folk who attend our events. 

The Mill Hill Music Festival gets no financial support from Barnet Council, we are entirely funded by ticket sales, bar takings and the odd donation from generous supporters. None of our committee or helpers are paid. We do pay bands and the freelance technicians who make their living in music. We believe it is important to recognise the efforts of musicians and make them feel appreciated. The Mayor rightly paid tribute to our volunteers and volunteers across Barnet. 

Here's a flavour of what you saw if you were there and what you missed if you weren't.

After the fun of Friday night, we had to collect the van at 9.30am from the Golf club and drive to Hartley Hall. We unloaded all of staging as we use it for the Elstree band. Then it was back home for breakfast. My sister was staying and we had a full English, of the finest bacon, sausage, egg and black pudding from Boucherie Gerard, which as I am sure you can imagine, was delicious. We then walked the dogs and before we knew it, back to the studio to get some of the instruments needed for the show that we store. We then built the platform for the brass section, checked microphones etc. 

The band had a rehearsal before the doors open, and after a short speech from the Mayor, we kicked off at 7.30pm prompt. After the band finished, we packed everything down ready for collection this morning. We then  adjourned to Mill Hill Services Club for a post festival bevvie, which went down very well.

The club shut at 11pm and we all toodled home in high spirits. 

And that is that for #MHMF2025. Normall blogging will now resume!


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