OKEHAMPTON'S EX20 lottery has raised almost £4,000 in the last three months. This adds to the £78,800 which the lottery has raised for charities since its inception. This latest sum is to be divided between Wren Music, The Okehampton Community Transport Group, Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and Okehampton's Battle of the Bands — who received the largest donation of £1,000. The donation to the Battle of the Bands is to help organiser Richard Appleby set up a new 'instrument library'. Over the last three years, since the birth of the Battle of the Bands, around 30 groups per year have taken part in the competition's heats leading up to the grand final in Simmons Park. The new scheme aims to open up that opportunity to even more people. 'Musical instruments can be really expensive. The idea here is that youngsters can pay a deposit and a small rent to borrow guitars, drums and amps,' Richard said. Richard's shop, Millenium Music, is donating the space to store the rental instruments, but the Battle of the Bands is looking for local companies to sponsor individual instruments. Richard said: 'We're looking for anyone in town who'd like to have their name on a guitar or a drum-kit. 'You never know, that guitar might get through to the final'. For more information on the instrument library, contact Richard at Millenium Music, on 01837 659249. Or to subscribe to the EX20 lottery, contact promoter Christine Marsh at 17 Vicarage Road, Okehampton, EX20 1LF. l The winner of this month's EX20 lottery was W J Northam, of Okehampton, who won £68.80. The second prize of £34.40 was won by Mrs D M Stephens. Runner-up prizes of £8.60 went to Mr and Mrs C Letchford, and Mr and Mrs Stephens.
