Music in the Gardens 2016 - A Report from Roving Reporter Paul G Daniels

Being a steward for Music in the Gardens is not a particularly onerous task but is one of the ways an individual (not necessarily a Rotarian) can contribute towards the four-night programme and help to make it a successful and safe event. Not only was it an opportunity to work with members of Rotherham Sitwell but also to enjoy exchanges with other Rotarians and their “conscripts”. The schedule for stewards was very well organised and involved changing “stations” every 20 to 30 minutes which helped to maintain interest. For me, one of the most enjoyable aspects was being in a team with a young couple only to find that she was the daughter of an ex-colleague of mine from about 15 years ago. It was also intriguing to find that John Ridsdale has a strong dislike for pigeons and squirrels: his attempts to evict them were something to observe.
This year’s Rotary Club’s visit to Music in the Gardens started earlier in the day than in previous years. Following on from 2015’s visit when we had to queue very near the end of a very long line, Tony Jackson’s master stroke was to arrive so early that we were right at the front next to the gates. Chairs and bottles were quickly opened and for the next hour the pavement became a sun drenched picnic area. This gave the evening a terrific start which was followed by great music from the Unite the Union Brass Band and the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra. The fireworks were spectacular. Paul.