DRUMMING UP SOME SUNSHINE! [or DRUMMING UP COMMUNITY SUPPORT!]

Drumming beats could be heard throughout Busbridge on Sunday 20th September. Not for a rain-dance, but for some welcome, glorious, Autumnal sunshine!

Gail Thurley, South-East Regional Family Co-Ordinator for the children's charity Brainwave (which supports children with brain injury, Developmental Delay, genetic & chromosome abnormalities) organised a "Native American Drumming Festival" at the Busbridge Infant School in Godalming. The morning explored drumming as an exciting way of experiencing rhythm, percussion and the joy of creating music together and, in the afternoon, all participants became a variety of animals and birds to create a unique dance piece with sound effects and songs bringing a mythological story to life. Art, Dance and Drumming can inspire the individual to realise their own potential and the importance of their unique contribution to their environment. Not only did the children, their families and friends celebrate this colourful time of the year with Kaya Drums from Wiltshire in this exciting drumming and 'talking-stick making' event, but, as a keen supporter of local musical arts, Godalming's Town Mayor, Councillor Joy Poulter and Surrey County Councillor Peter Martin attended and immediately joined in very enthusiastically!

As Gail Thurley said, "At the Festival, families had an opportunity to get together and meet new people as well as old friends. All the families are part of a big community of children and parents sharing similar experiences and it was therefore very important for us to celebrate this festival together." She added, "Apart from the children and families having had such fun in contributing to the whole drumming experience in a relaxed environment, the day could not have been such a success without my friends and family nor gone ahead without the invaluable joint financial support of 'Marketing Industry Meeting Needs' and Surrey County Councillors' Steve Cosser and Peter Martin ~ for which I am very grateful.