Sidmouth crowd enjoy ‘Sally Army’ band

Nearly 300 enjoy Songs of Praise at Sidmouth’s Connaught Gardens

A crowd of 260 people in Sidmouth’s Connaught Gardens were told by Captain Stephen Watson of the Salvation Army’s Exeter Temple Band on Sunday that the ‘Army’ always refers to hymns as songs, writes Mary Hasbury.

So, as part of the regular summer Hymns in the Gardens on Sunday afternoons, they were presenting Songs of Praise for us.

Captain Watson conducted the service, which included six hymns (songs!), some of which were familiar and well loved, and others less well known but soon picked up.

Although the weather was grey and threatening, the splendid sound from the musicians of this rousing silver band more than made up for that.

The ‘Sally Army’, as it is affectionately named, does such sterling work at all times that it was a joy to welcome them to our bandstand.

Long may they continue.