A POPULAR brass band from Cirencester pulled out all the stops for their German visitors last week and created a magical Harry Potter party to conclude this year's band exchange trip.
Cirencester Band members spent last week showing their twin band from North Germany Oelixdorfer Musikzug - which is based in the village of Oelixdorf on the edge of Itzehoe - a good time by arranging an array of concerts, trips and joint practices.
Oelixdorfer Musikzug is a concert band which uses flutes, clarinets and saxophones plus a range of brass instruments.
Throughout the week the bands have performed at the Abbey Grounds Bandstand, at a Concert of Friendship in the Parish Church and in the Market Place in Cirencester.
To end the jam-packed week with a bang Cirencester Band decided to host a Harry Potter party that nobody would ever forget at Ashton Keynes Village Hall.
On Saturday evening (August 19) 75 people from the two bands gathered at the hall dressed in their finest wizardry attire and enjoyed food from the Cotswold Cookery School and live music by Big Brunch Band.
They munched on the feast on long wooden tables, just like the Hogwarts students do in the Harry Potter films.
The hall was transformed into the perfect Hogwarts haven with floating candles, brooms, house banners and spider trails as well as their very own Leaky Cauldron bar.
These wonderful decorations were made by Cirencester Band members Phoebe, Becky and Jim Dowdeswell, Alys Cowling, Lorna Harris, Pamela, Hannah, Nigel and Chloe Carter in two workshop sessions and took nearly seven hours to set up.
Phoebe and Becky Dowdeswell's fat lady painting was a particular highlight of the evening.
Hannah Carter from Cirencester Band said: "We have had a fantastic time this week with our Oelixdorfer Musikzug friends.
"With a packed programme of day trips, joint practices and concerts, we have spent valuable time catching up with old friends and making new ones.
"Our final evening was absolutely magical as we entered the world of Harry Potter, with fabulous fancy dress, a feast like menu and live music!"
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