The summer is a busy time for any orchestra and the Maldon Orchestra has performed two concerts in three days to celebrate their 75th anniversary of making music in the community of Maldon.

Under the watchful baton of their Music Director, Mr Ron Bewers, the Maldon Orchestra performed in the Stage Hall of the Plume Academy on the evening of Friday, July 12.

The programme included music from every decade since they began in 1949, and was performed to a very appreciative audience, including Maldon Mayor Cllr Andrew Lay, Deputy Mayor Martin Harvey and MP John Whittingdale.

The Maldon Youth Orchestra were invited along in recognition of their historical links with the Orchestra.

They performed several of their own tunes and one with the Maldon Orchestra creating a mass orchestra of over 60 players.

The event raised just over £1000 for the Maldon and District Community Voluntary Services who provided the refreshments at the interval.

The ever-popular Mr Colin Bellett was on hand to add his vocals to the evening.

The Orchestra returned to the stage just two days later on Sunday, July 14, under canvas on the Common in Little Totham.

Fun in the sun in Little Totham. (Photo: The Maldon Orchestra)

The team of thirty-five entertained another large audience at a ticket-free concert which included refreshments at the interval of cream teas.

The bright and sunny programme for the concert kept the rain at bay and raised an amazing £300 for the charity Hand in Hand, a Witham-based charity that sends aid to Africa.