Record deal for Tom ...
Nansen wedding reunion: Tim Chalk, Stacey Morgan (née Tom Grubb) and Ashley.
reading and his son, James, was his best man.” The newlyweds enjoyed a
buffet lunch in the medieval hall at the King Charles Pub in Thames Street which had been decorated with bunting and flowers. “My priority for the day was to have a happy, relaxed and fun time with friends and family rather than to be overly concerned with too many extras,” said Amanda. “The day was very personal to us with our friends and relatives helping with many aspects of it – such as our friend Sandy West who made and decorated our beautiful and delicious three-tier wedding cake.” For older brides-to-be and second-time brides currently planning their wedding, Amanda advises them not to over-think the day. “I visualised myself actually getting married and it made me feel much less nervous. It’s such a special day, so just enjoy the
moment.” • Ashley and Amanda’s wedding photograph on page 3 shows: Ashley and Amanda (centre) with (from left to right) Ashley’s daughter Maria, his son James who was his Best Man, Amanda’s cousin Joey (who gave her away) and Joey’s husband Derek.
6 / The Sibford Rocket
The rock band ‘Flowers for Charlie’ recently signed to Northern Quarter Records and in April released their first single ‘Hearts Apart’ which is available to stream on various digital platforms. The band, whose influences include Green Day, Queen and Billy Joel, is made up of four students from the Royal Northern College of Music. Guitarist in ‘Flowers for Charlie’ is Tom Smith who has also produced and mixed the band’s first EP from which the single is taken. A former Sibford scholar, he speaks to The Rocket about his memories of Sibford.
Tom pictured at The Mill in 2010... and playing in Flowers for Charlie
M
y musical ambitions were nurtured at Sibford. I first started playing guitar at the age six but things didn’t really start to take off musically
until I joined the school. Some of my fondest memories are of performing with all my friends in the annual gigs at The Mill Arts Centre in Banbury where we undertook tributes to some of the musical greats including Queen, Elton John and The Beatles. Most games afternoons I would play truant and hide in the music department to record in the studio with my friends rather than play sports. Apologies to my PE teacher Richard Ferley, who I understand is still at the school. I imagine he’d be very surprised to hear that I’m now a veteran marathon runner! It was a special time. I knew the music department, under the leadership of Matt Platt and Mike Ahmed, really cared about making great music and nurturing creativity with the students. Not only that, but it was apparent that the whole school ethos respected music’s place in the curriculum and gave it the credence it deserved to allow the students to flourish. My time at Sibford was so special to me and I believe that it is a testament
to the school that I’ve got where I am today. Indeed it was Sibford that encouraged me to apply to the Royal Northern College of Music when I left in 2014, and it was here that I met the other founding members of Flowers for Charlie. • Flowers For Charlie are described as a hard hitting Rock band whose sound incorporates the best of pop punk with an unapologetic and flamboyant edge.
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