Banding together in Shefford for retiring clergyman

More than 200 people enjoyed two performances of The Travelling Band on Saturday and Sunday (October 1 and 2), a production which starred the Reverend John Harper, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels Church in Shefford and his wife Sandra.

Mr Harper, who was also the Rector of St Mary’s Church in Meppershall conducted his final services on Sunday, and appropriately the two played a married couple in the production.

The show was staged at St Michael and All Angels Church in Shefford High Street and was written by lay reader Jenny Dann.

Jenny, who wrote much of the story, script and all of the songs for The Travelling Band brought together a 25-strong cast for the musical.

She said: “The show is about the early Christians and is based on the Book of Acts, though I also added some extra characters of my own, who are mainly musical instruments.

“Travelling the world is one of the main themes and we decorated the church with global themes, so each area represented a different part of the world.”

Jenny said the fact that the shows coincided with Mr Harper’s final working weekend as Vicar and Rector gave the performances extra meaning.

She added: “When I wrote The Travelling Band I didn’t know that we would be performing it when John and Sandra retired but that made it extra poignant, and it was lovely that they could play parts in the show.

“I would also like to thank all of the cast members and everyone who helped with the technical side including Les Davies.”

Mr and Mrs Harper are moving to Peterborough at the end of the month for their retirement.