Wolsingham Royal Marine scoring successes
A WOLSINGHAM girl is already scoring successes in her military career.
Beth Donnelly (24), a former member of Stanhope Silver Band where her father, Steve, also
played, joined up just 18 months ago with the Royal Marines. Early next month, she will take part in
the finals of the prestigious Cassell Prize, the top gong for young musicians studying at the Royal
Marines School of Music in Portsmouth.
Steve will be travelling down to watch her perform as a vocalist. Beth has already won through
two rounds of the competition and her appearance in the finals is a huge success in itself.
Beth, who was persuaded to take up the oboe, is really making the most of her time with the
Royal Marines and has become involved with the Navy Equestrian team too. She is hoping to
eventually be stationed in Scotland to be nearer home.
Currently, she is helping with an appeal for a fellow Royal Marine Musician. Sophie Ward, is 26
years old and last year was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Fellow Marines are supporting
her and are also helping to raise money for MND charities.
Sophie joined the Band Service in 2020 and married fellow musician Rich in 2023. After months of
uncertainty and medical investigations, she was diagnosed with MND. MND is a progressive
neurological condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and
paralysis.
Determined to show their support, members of the Band Service created the #26forSoph
challenge, which quickly gained momentum across the wider Royal Marines community and beyond.
Beth is looking to organise an event in Weardale in the Summer when she is home on leave and is
hoping Weardalians will support her. Watch out for more details.
