Two women who share a love for playing brass instruments, will take to the skies to perform a daring stunt which is undoubtedly a World First – playing “Fly Me To The Moon” whilst hang gliding, tandem, at 3,000 feet.

Twice Women’s World Hang Gliding Champion, Judy Leden MBE will pilot the hang glider, whilst expert brass player and Cressbrook Band conductor, Helen Thurlby (who recently took Cressbrook Band to play at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, following a personal
invitation by Coldplay), will take the musical lead role, with Judy accompanying her.

They are embarking on the hang glide to raise funds to rebuild Tideswell Band Room which was destroyed by fire two years ago. This building was the band’s practice room and main storage area for instruments, uniforms and over 100 years of music.

The hang glider flight is due to take place on Saturday 26th August at 10.30am, at Darley Moor Airfield in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Lying side by side in the tandem hang glider, they will be towed aloft by a microlight aircraft. Once they have reached 3,000 feet, Judy will release the tow cable and Helen and Judy will then perform their duet whilst flying the hang glider back down to earth.

Speaking about the flight, Judy says: “I haven’t worked out the fine logistics of how to fly a hang glider one-handed whilst playing the cornet; but I am looking forward to the challenge of doing something completely new and untried”. Helen says “I have always wanted to hang glide, and I have the same passion for playing brass instruments as Judy has for hang gliding. This seems a perfect way to combine our two obsessions, whilst raising money for the vital cause of constructing a new bandroom for Tideswell Band”.

Brass bands are being invited from all over Derbyshire, to come and play music and support Helen and Judy’s flight.

You can still help by donating to this very worthy cause even if you can't make it on the day :)