Update 19th December 2005
CHRISTMAS IS GRAND!: The band has played carols in a variety of places this year including Tesco in Warndon and Arley Station for the Santa Specials on the Severn Valley Railway. The public have been very generous as the collection buckets have been swollen so much that almost £1200 has been donated this year. Thanks to everyone who played or held a collection bucket this year.
Update 1st November 2005
APOLOGIES: I haven't updated this section for a while and lots has happened meanwhile (not to mention the birth of a future player!)
CONCERTS: The band have continued their tradition of playing in local parks (Droitwich, Stourport Carnival and West Park in Wolverhampton) and also played at the Music For You concerts for local charities in Kidderminster Town Hall. Thanks must go to the percussion players who have helped the band out.........some at very short notice.
CONTESTS:
Wychavon: With only 3 bands
in the 2nd section this year, but only 2 prizes, the odds were good of being
awarded something.......alas, the band were placed 3rd (last) after a resonable
performance.
Pontins: For a change, North Wales was sunny! (if a little windy). The band
played a reasonable performance of Edward Gregson's Laudate Dominum and were
placed 16th out of 25 after being drawn to play last. Thanks need to go to
Barry Pope for offering to play percussion if a suitable MD could be found
in time. The call was made to Dai Maplestone and he accepted. Thanks to both
of you guys.
Leamington: Lets hope for a good performance and a fair result in the last
2nd Section contest for a while before the band are promoted next year.
Update 20th June 2005
SEVERAL THINGS: A few concerts have happened since last time I wrote something and a player is retiring.
It all started at 6pm on Friday 22nd April with a surprise birthday party for a "fan" of the band at the Severn Valley Railway in Kidderminster. Many of the band know the station quite well as the pub attached to it (King & Castle) is frequented weekly by players after rehearsal on Thursdays. We welcomed back Colin Farlow to conduct us that night, it was good to see him again.
Evesham bandstand came along on Sunday 22nd May and the band made a good sound during the first half playing to a few dozen fans and friends & family. However the rain started to fall just before the end of the first half...........and then the heavens really opened!! After 10 minutes of deliberation as to whether to abandon the start of the 2nd half or not, then came...........thunder & lightning!! Well, the decision was quickly made "abandon ship!" and go home. The band have subsequently received their first piece of fan mail from a lady resident of Evesham. The band thanks her for her kind words.
18th June saw the village of Wolverley near Kidderminster go backwards in time to 1945 for VE Day 60th Anniversary celebrations. Villagers dressed in appropriate 40s clothing and their were some military vehicles and personnel around too. The band played a first half programme which included Richard Snape's solo attempt at Sugar Blues written for Alan Morrison, principal cornet with Grimethorpe Band (Richard played it very well indeed). The 2nd half opening piece of Death or Glory was rudely interrupted by "The Germans" who took Vera Lynn hostage. American troops and French resistance girls fired very loud and very close shots across the band's heads and eventually "won". The 2nd half comprised war-type music and finished with Last Night Of The Proms music to much cheering and flag waving from the audience who were by now "very lubricated!".
The concert was ex-Chairman Martin Kemp's last as his work commitments and pending marriage to Sarah have taken a priority. The band wish Martin and Sarah the very best and we'll see them both in Stratford on July 9th to toast the happy couple.
Update 22nd April 2005
NEW MD....AGAIN!: After an extremely successful set of rehersals and a fabulous joint concert (16th April) in Walsall Town Hall with a local Male Voice Choir, Barry Pope has agreed to be the permanent MD for the band. Barry accepted the challenge of preparing the band for the Walsall concert at very short notice and has proved a real hit with the majority of the band. Barry's former banding experience includes the Sun Life Band. Click to find out more about the man himself.
Update 14th April 2005
CONFIRMATION: It has been confirmed by official people that the band will be playing in the 1st Section next year along with Snibston & Desford who have also been promoted, congratulations to them. Click here to see the grading sheet.
Update 15th March 2005
PROMOTION!: At last, the band should be promoted to the 1st Section from January 2006 (subject to official confirmation). This follows the 8th place achieved at Burton-Upon-Trent in the Regional Championships. The band played their best full performance of Variations by Vaughan Williams and are extremely happy with the promotion if a little disappointed with their placing on the day. The band wish to thank everyone involved over the past 3 years in achieving their highest ever standing and reinforcing the fact that they are the "Best Band in Worcestershire!". Well done everyone.
Update 4th March 2005
NEW MD: The band welcomes Steve Gittens as MD after a few auditions. Steve's first "outing" was in the Methodist Church in Evesham conducting the band for a free concert in aid of the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Fund. The band played various crowd favourites, many of which are available on the CD!! The concert was also a chance to play the Regionals piece of "Variations". There was a retiring collection which raised £472 for the Leukaemia fund.
SQUASHED!: The back row cornets have welcomed a new player, Hannah Dickinson. Hannah is currently playing 2nd cornet which means there are now 3!! Welcome Hannah. Hannah is the 3rd new player to join the band in the last 6 months along with Richard Bradley on Solo Trombone (occasionally playing with a bass trombone instrument!) and Richard McLaughlin on Front Row Cornet. Welcome to you all! Hopefully a Bb Bass player will arrive soon. It would also be nice to have some permanent percussionists instead of "borrowing" people.
Next up is Burton.
Update 10th January 2005
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let's hope it will be anyway with the right MD. The band are currently in the middle of auditioning for a new MD, stay tuned for an update soon.
XMAS NEWS: Over £1000 was donated to the band over the Christmas period. The band played twice at Tescos in Warndon, Worcester and collected around £500. The band also played for a knackering 6-7 hours at Arley Station on the Severn Valley Steam Railway wher a further £500 or so was collected. At least we should be able to afford some rehearsal room expenditure this year.
GRADE 7: Michael Hemming (2nd cornet) has passed his grade 7 cornet exam, well done to you, Michael.
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