Mike West, Rich Hatfield and Helen Fishbourne prevent a soaking
Update 30th June 2008
PARK JINX: The band appeared to be jinxed this year in park bandstands. On Sunday 25th May the band were due to play in Cripplegate Park in Worcester at 2.30pm but frantic phone calls had to be made due to heavy rain and the cancelling of the concert around lunchtime. Sunday 29th June arrived and the band turned up at West Park in Wolverhampton expecting to play to the usual large crowd at 2pm. All started well with guest conductor and band President Colin Farlow until halfway through the first piece........it started raining. The back row cornets and basses didn't complain but were getting wetter as the first half continued and so were their instruments and music. It was decided at the break to abandon the second half due to the rain and the lack of audience (except the few that had given lifts to or were related to players in the band). Lets hope the next event is dry - Stourport Flow Festival!!
MD UPDATE: The band have auditioned several more applicants for the position of MD and are getting ever closer to being able to announce an appointment - watch this space.
Update 25th April 2008
NEW/OLD PLAYERS: The band welcomes back 2 former cornet players. Rich Snape is appointed as principal cornet and Lizi Killick steps into the Repiano cornet shoes as Neil Fishbourne moves forward onto the front row. Welcome back guys and many thanks to Mike Hemming for sitting in the difficult end seat since September last year. We also say goodbye to Rich Towey (percussion) who is leaving the band to concentrate on his A-level exams and to go to University in September. Good luck Rich.
Update 10th March 2008
6TH PLACE: The band's first trip to Bedworth didn't turn out too bad. After a 6.30am start for some players, an 8.30am rehearsal in a swimming pool, being drawn to play 2nd and someone being sick from the band drawn before us - the band were in the pub for 11am for breakfast and a pint or two! Some believed the resulting 6th place was low given the stage performance, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Many thanks to Colin Farlow for his efforts and understanding of the band's "unique" nature. Bread Of Heaven!
Update 5th March 2008
(Apologies - I must update this more often than every 4 months!!)
CAROLLING SUCCESS: The band played at several supermarkets, a museum and outside Santa's Grotto at a preserved railway station. The public were very generous and donated £1129.97 in spare change. Many thanks to everyone who donated, played and collected in cold and windy conditions - the money will be used wisely.
PLAYERS: There have been several changes to the band since Christmas. Dave Morgan left the band as MD due to work commitments and we have welcomed back Colin Farlow (President) to wag the baton up to the Regional Contest in Bedworth on Sunday 9th March. Neil & Helen Fishbourne have returned to the band after leaving in August last year to boost the cornet line up. We would like to welcome three new players to the band - Darran Wheeler on Flugel, Dave Alliston on 2nd Trombone and Jenny Woodhall on Tuned Percussion.
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For Past News items select from the following years:
NEW MD: Mike West was appointed MD in August after an intensive selection process and several auditions. Thanks to all who applied for and showed interest in the job - the band have made some very useful contacts through the process.
MORE RAIN!: The band played a succesful Bandstand in Sanders Park in Bromsgrove and also welcomed Mike West as their new MD for the foreseeable future. However the band were very unlucky on Saturday 6th September as the heavens opened and didn't stop whilst the band played at Claines Royal British Legion club for their 60th anniversary celebrations. A tarpaulin was all that stopped some of the band getting wet between the two gazebos and the marquee, except it collected the rainwater instead of dispersing so the front row cornets had a minor battle on their hands every ten minutes to save the gazebos from collapse.
Update 8th September 2008
FLOW FESTIVAL: The band had the opportunity to take part in the Stourport Flow Festival in July as part of the reopening of the marina basins funded by British Waterways in Stourport. The band were a little unsure of taking part especially when they heard the first draft of the music composed for them. With a little tweaking from Dave Bishop-Rowe a better balance and sound was achieved. The band were even more unsure when the costume department turned up with gold top hats and red capes.......and nothing else!! The technical rehearsal had to be cancelled due to rain and the dress rehearsal was a mixture of technical stuff, run throughs and a lot of waiting about. The performances went well and band actually quite enjoyed dressing up and a few members still treasure the costumes as they keep reappearing at various summer concerts.
Update 11th November 2008
MUSIC FOR YOU: The band played at the annual Music For You concerts in October in Kidderminster Town Hall. The band played most of the repertoire they played at the Wychavon Festival in Pershore. The band were well received and hope to be asked back again next year. The band have supported Music For You for many years especially as all proceeds go towrds supporting local charities.
MARCHING: The band headed the annual march for Remembrance Sunday at Claines, Worcester for the 90th anniversary of the end of WW1 and even made the local Worcester News paper. Dave Alliston was the right marker and set a steady pace with Roland banging the drum maintaining it for the rest of the band.