THREE major groups in the Okehampton area received a financial shot-in-the-arm this week with grants from the Lottery?s Awards for All scheme. Okehampton?s Battle of the Bands competition, the popular Sticklepath Fireshow and Age Concern have each received grants. The £5,000 for the Battle of the Bands is a major boost for the competition, said organiser Richard Appleby, of Millennium Music ? and there is still time to enter the event. Mr Appleby said entry forms are still available from his shop in the Arcade if budding musicians want to get involved. The aim of the musical talent show, to be held during July and August, is to give local musicians, especially young people, the opportunity to share their talents and perform in front of a live audience. Mr Appleby said he was ?absolutely thrilled to bits? to have received the substantial grant from the Lottery?s Awards for All scheme and thanked Okehampton town clerk Don Bent for the ?sterling work? he had done to help with the application. Mr Appleby said he had big long-term plans for the competition: ?We want to extend it further. We have got to try to raise more money to make it self-sustaining, so we are looking at selling T-shirts and CDs.? Mr Appleby said he was trying to create a welcoming atmosphere at the gigs. ?It?s a lot of fun, people need not worry much about the competition side of things. It is about people enjoying themselves and experiencing the atmosphere.? Entry forms for bands and musicians can be collected from the shop, or contact Mr Appleby on 01837 659249. Sticklepath Fireshow received a grant of l Continued on page 3
