Captain Banjo's Street Band performs at Little Bridge House, Children's Hospice South West, Barnstaple, North Devon

Over the last few months Captain Banjo's Street Band based in Pilton, Barnstaple, North Devon is proud to have been involved in fundraising thousand of pounds for the Childrens Hospice South West in aid of life limited children. So, when the band was invited to perform at a volunteers barbecue at Little Bridge House last Sunday (6th September 2009), the Band leaped at the opportunity to learn more about the wonderful work done by this charity and see one of their most important centres.

However, nothing could have prepared the members of Captain Banjo's Street Band for the welcoming, cheerful and supportive ambiance they found at Little Bridge House created by the people who work there as they look after the children and families in their care.

Set in tranquil and beautiful grounds in a quiet part of Fremington, North Devon, Little Bridge House is an outstanding example of what can be achieved through volunteers and not for profit, charitable endeavours. (Photos taken by the Band's resident photographer Rose with kind permission of Little Bridge House.)

Certainly, the Band's visit to the Children's Hospice South West will renew their determination to work as hard as possible to raise funds for this charitable organisation whose good works require a minimum of £6 million every year to run Little Bridge House and Charlton Farm.

And there is always more help needed, however hard existing volunteers work, so Captain Banjo's Street Band says 'Oi!' check out the Children's Hospice South West web site and get involved. It's fun and you will know that you are doing something to help wonderful people help children and families in great need and what could anyone do that would be more satisfying?

Barnstaple town centre rocks again to Captain Banjo's Street Band August Bank Holiday Weekend

Barnstaple town centre rocked again to the pulsating sounds of Captain Banjo's Street Band this August Bank Holiday Saturday lunchtime with Barnstaple onlookers giving generously in aid of fundraising for Children's Hospice North Devon.

Although lead musician melodeon player Jan was suffering from a heavy cold, she insisted that the show had to go on in aid of the Children's Hospice (photo right).

Since sleepy saxophone player Rob had forgotten his camera (and possibly his brain), friend of the band Rose stepped into the breach, as she also did for the Barnstaple Beer Festival, and took the photos using her own camera. Thanks Rose!

As ever, the vibrant and rapidly evolving Captain Banjo's Street Band is continuing to innovate and has now introduced the ragtime tune 'Pig Ankle Rag' into its repertoire which was so popular it had some members of the public dancing in the streets and brought a smile to many faces.

All agreed that ragtime tunes were a great addition to the band's repertoire and the hunt is now on for more tunes to keep Captain Banjo's Street Band performances fresh, exciting and, of course, raising more money for life limited children through kind donations from the public.

Captain Banjo's Street Band rocking at Pilton Green Man Festival fundraising for children's hospice, North Devon

Captain Banjo's Street Band went down a storm at the Pilton Green Man Festival with its individual blend of audience participation, rocking traditional folk tunes and fundraising collections for the children's hospice, North Devon.



Despite the constant threat of rain (and a few actual showers) the crowds turned out in great numbers with Pilton Street, Barnstaple packed throughout Saturday afternoon providing great opportunities for the many traders, street performers and band performances on the three stages.



Many more were enjoying the ambience of Morris dancing, band performances, craft demonstrations and stalls in the grounds of Pilton House. With as much emphasis on things for children to do as well as adults, there was certainly something for everybody.

The Reform Inn, Barnstaple, spiritual home of Captain Banjo's Street Band, was packed with keen festival goers determined to drink the barrel dry with loads of beers to choose from provided by proprietor and brewer of Barum Beers, Tim, for the North Devon Beer Festival and served up by Nayomie Worth beer maid extraordinaire whose amazing knowledge of the beers made her extremely popular with Captain Banjo's Street Band (seen in the photo Nayomie to the left and Tim on the right of Captain Banjo).

With the huge popularity of the Pilton Festival putting a strain on local car parks, bongo drumming member Helen, proprietor of the Crossways B & B (possibly the best bed and breakfast in Barnstaple) kindly allowed some of the band members to park in the gardens of her B &B.

Were you at the Pilton Festival? Did you have a great time? Did you see Captain Banjo's Street Band? What did you think? We'd love to know and welcome your comments below so we can get better and raise more money for limited life children at the North Devon Hospice. We look forward to hearing from you :-)