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L6th pupil, Sophie Tumber, recently took centre stage in the 40th Anniversary Concert at The Stables Theatre, Wavendon. Performing alongside such stars as Victoria Wood, Maureen Lipman, Laurie Holloway, Timothy West, Prunella Scales, the virtuoso clarinettist Emma Johnson and the hugely talented Dankworth family- Alec, Jacqui and Emily-  was a real treat.

Sadly the birthday event turned into a tribute concert, as John Dankworth, the legendary jazz musician, co-founder of 'The Stables' with his wife Dame Cleo Laine, died the same day; remarkably Cleo waited until the end of the concert to make the announcement.

Sophie has been associated with Cleo Laine and the Dankworth family for a number of years through the Avril Dankworth National Music Camps and it was in this capacity that she was asked to take part in this gala concert.

When asked about the evening, Sophie said: 'Meeting compere Paul O’Grady and other talented people such as Tim Firth, scriptwriter for Calendar Girls, Rod Argent, former keyboard player with the Zombies and then to have Laurie Holloway playing for me was amazing; but it was so moving and poignant knowing that I was taking part in a tribute to the legendary Johnny Dankworth who has had such a profound influence on so many people. It is a night that I will never forget.'