Brassed Off musical instruments find way to Africa

Musical instruments used in a theatre production of the classic 1996 film Brassed Off have been donated to children in Cape Verde and Kenya.

The instruments, mainly cornets and trombones, were sourced from local restorer Dave Walker, who runs All Brass and Woodwind in Leeds when Leeds Playhouse staged their adaptation of the film.

The deliveries have been facilitated by Chris Backhouse, founder of a charity that donates old, unused instruments to communities in Cape Verde.

Backhouse said: "I've been a musician for over 50 years, I've had a great life in music. I just think all kids should have access to music."

Before starting his own charity, Backhouse said he paid a visit to Walker who told him of the charity he had set up in Kenya 10 years ago, delivering instruments to communities there.

Walker now helps Backhouse with instruments he wants donating.

"I thought that's a great idea. Maybe I could do the same in Cape Verde.

"I have a deep love for the island, I knew they were more desperate than anybody else I knew," he said.

Backhouse said since starting the charity last year, he has supplied instruments to nine different teachers on five of the Cape Verdean islands, which sit around 350 miles (570km) from the western tip of Africa.

"They just can't get hold of instruments over there, even if they had the money to buy them. There are no music shops. They can't buy anything from the internet."

Backhouse said being able to donate instruments from the stage adaptation of Brassed Off was a great opportunity, but admitted at times it was "not as easy" as he first thought.

Walker was approached by the production team of Brassed Off, who needed a few props for the play.

"I thought I'd just lend them as these instruments were allocated to go off to charity so it would actually give them a third life," he said.

Now the curtain has set on Brassed Off at Leeds Playhouse, those instruments will be shipped almost 6,825 miles (11,000km) to Kenya and 2,811 miles (4,524km) to Cape Verde.

Brassed Off tells the story of the Grimethorpe-inspired Grimley Colliery brass band as it struggles to survive against the backdrop of pit closures in South Yorkshire.

The 1996 Bafta-nominated film starred Ewan McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite and Tara Fitzgerald, with the stage version marking the film's 30th anniversary.

For Walker, being able to give the joys of music to those in need is a special feeling.

"It's so good for mental health. These kids don't have anything and they don't have any value in life," he said.

Walker added that he feels immense pride in seeing how the lives of those who have been given donated instruments in Kenya have turned around.

He said children who had been on the streets are now part of school bands and play their instruments every day.

"They actually feel valued in life. For me, I just want to help as many people as I can."

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