Monday 27th January
Report written by Sevan
GoodGym Ealing had not one, but two musical tasks on Monday night. The first was to fill a moving van with the steel pans of the UFO Steelband from Christ The Savior church in Ealing Broadway, relocating them to a new community space in North Acton.
One person in elaborate dress was asked if she was part of the band.
"I'm from the church" - Well dressed lady
"So, are you kicking them out or did they find a better space?" - Sevan
Nervous laugh
"All of the above" - Well dressed lady
Bass pans and tenors were wheeled out of storage, then lifted by Steph, Kash and Sevan through the church courtyard and out to the square in Dickens Yard. They were lighter than they looked. Awkwardly shaped though. The band members helped too and pan covers followed, then stands and trolleys.
After 10 minutes, a white Luton van arrived with 2 drivers. For the purposes of the story, maybe they're the pantomime villains as they kept us waiting in the cold. The drivers played Tetris with everything sitting in the square, squeezing the last items in at strange angles.
The GoodGymers eyed the van, estimated the rush hour traffic and boldly stated that they'd run to North Acton quicker that the van would drive there...
UFO Steelband is an Ealing-based charity that spreads joy through steelpan music, welcoming people of all ages and abilities, including visually and hearing-impaired players. Known for vibrant performances at events like Notting Hill Carnival and impactful projects like “Community at Carnival” supporting Grenfell-affected children, UFO fosters creativity, teamwork, and transformation.
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