East Midlands Railway staff are preparing for their annual charity concert on 9 May – although this year it will be online and with social distancing.
‘Grifftonbury’ was put together back in 2017 by East Midlands Railway (previously East Midlands Trains) and Samaritans staff as a way to raise money for charity.
As a lifelong Glastonbury fan, Paul Griffin (Griff), Head of Drivers for EMR and a keen Bass player, decided to put a band together.
Just over a year later, ‘Cut & Run’ was formed, consisting of Pete Eddy (Driver, Nottingham), Simon Thorpe (Driver, Nottingham) Paul Griffin (Head of Drivers), Jason Ochello (Driver Depot Manager St Pancras & Kettering), Duane Firth (Driver Manager, Nottingham) and Ashley Wynder (Trainee Train Driver).
After months of rehearsals, marketing, planning and even commemorative t-shirts, Cut & Run performed for the first time back in 2018. Encompassing classic tracks covering four decades; from ballads to ‘Pop’ to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Cut & Run performed for an audience who were all on the dance floor ‘strutting their stuff’ and enjoying the party.
Cut & Run has since organised and performed several other charity events and raised thousands of pounds.
After the Covid-19 pandemic sent the UK in to lockdown in March, key workers across the railway and other sectors have been working hard to keep the country moving and what better way for them to enjoy some down time then to tune in to an online concert performed by Cut & Run.
Cut & Run will perform online at 20:00 on Saturday 9th May, if you would like to listen and donate, follow Grifftonbury on Facebook or Twitter for all the details.
Paul Griffin, Head of Drivers for EMR said “With Coronavirus meaning a lockdown in the UK, we wanted to celebrate all the wonderful key workers who are continuing to work every day during this pandemic.
“Cut & Run are going to perform a one off concert, whilst socially distancing of course, to cheer everybody up hopefully raise funds for Hospice UK, who are doing wonderful work in very difficult circumstances.
“We are looking forward to performing again and hope everyone enjoys it”.