Coronavirus lockdown: Bayley Close Band in Rutland entertains street after Clap For Our Carers

A street in Rutland is alive with the sound of music after a retired English teacher formed a mini-orchestra to entertain the neighbours.

Ian Rolison, 64, of Bayley Close in Uppingham, dusted off his daughter’s clarinet and persuaded wife Kath to join him with her saxophone to pay tribute to the NHS front line workers after the weekly clap.

They also managed to rope in primary school headteacher Hannah Roddy and Oakham School student Magnus Robertson, both of whom play the saxophone, as well as former piano teacher Rosemary Holmes on keyboard.

Retired car dealer and professional musician Don Collins also strapped on his guitar with painter and decorator Chris Thomas completing the line-up on brass and woodwind.

For the past three weeks they have assembled on the green - two metres apart of course - to blast out a host of tunes.

Last Thursday they were even joined by professional singer Caroline Trutz for a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ with St George himself - in the form of retired structural engineer Jeremy Godbolt - making a speech.

Ian, who taught at Uppingham School for 25 years, told this newspaper: “It is all very light-hearted and intended to bring Bayley Close even closer - although given the noise we make it may have the opposite effect!”

He said the band has managed to carry out rehearsals in one of the member’s garden, and are slowly getting better.

“It can be tough because it’s hard to hear each other when we’re social distancing,” he said. “It doesn’t help that I’m dreadful either but I’m developing my talent for mime!”

On Thursdays the clapping is co-ordinated by retired teacher Martin Quinlan, whose brother is a paramedic, as he walks a lap of the close banging his saucepan. When he reaches number 27, the band strikes up.

Ian said they had an almost 100 per cent turnout on the road last Thursday.

“So far it has been well supported but the pressure is now on,” he said. “The idea is to complement the clapping of the close's gratitude for the NHS whilst, hopefully, affording everyone an opportunity to smile - or conceivably grimace - at the band's amateurish efforts.

“We all thought it might be a bit of fun, even if at our expense!”

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