Accomplished steel band musician Eustace 'Earl' Herbert has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of steel band music and establish a community steel orchestra in Slough. Although he has put together a popular steel band, Panachea, that has performed at Mayoral functions, festivals, and for the last three years at the Ascot Horticultural Show, Eustace believes that his band still isn't big enough.
Eustace first started the band after he purchased a set of steel pans with the aid of Slough West Indian People's Enterprise (SWIPE). The community had long known of his commitment to forming a steel band in Slough, which meant he quickly assembled a willing crew of steel musicians; first performing under the name Slough Community Youth Steel Orchestra, then Slough Allstars, and latterly Panachea. The community-based nature of the band has allowed the line-up to change over time giving more young people the chance to perform live, although keeping a band together is not an easy task. 'We had many young people.' Says Eustace, 'Some drop out... but we still persevered, more people became interested in what we do, and here we are.'
Eustace found that having recourse to the Arts Development team was particularly beneficial. 'They were very cooperative and supportive in what we were doing,' says Eustace, 'and that's why they made available the sum of a £1000 [via the now discontinued small grants programme] to purchase the instruments from Greenwich University.' Further funding was secured from the Youth Music Foundation, Lloyds TSB, and Awards For All among others.
The community focus that the band enjoys has resulted in the completion of several workshops within schools, performances at School Fetes, and the organisation of a showcase event at the West Wing Arts Centre in May 2006. Eustace puts the continued success of the band down to the young people themselves. 'They have a passion for steel bands and they're committed.' He says. In fact, it was the young people in the band that decided upon the name Panachea, a composite of the words panache and panacea; the meanings of which they believe reflect the philosophy of the band.
A big band with big instruments needs a big space in which to practice, something that was apparent soon after Eustace sourced the steel pans. The band seized the opportunity to move to the Orchard Community Centre where the steel pans could be left in-situ without the inconvenience of packing and unpacking them and the band had plenty of space to rehearse. 'My dream for the young people of Slough is to see a BIG community steel orchestra and the signs for it are there right now!' Eustace confides. One thing is for certain, when his dream of a big steel orchestra becomes a reality the people of Slough will hear it before they see it!
Interview: Andrew Unsworth
Photograph: Malcolm Glover