Whaley Bridge Brass Band

September 2009 - Welcome!

The band wish to welcome 2 new members to their community.  David Ormerod has joined us on cornet and Jane Walker Cull on Baritone.  Here's hoping a long and enjoyable stay with the band.

However the band continues it search for more players for both the main band and the learner group.

25th July - present (and continuing.......)

The band has found itself in a bit of a predicament due to the unfortunate accident involving the Musical Director Marcus Jones.  Why we don't know, but Marcus needed to discover if he could fly!!  Rumour has it, that married to Lois, he thought he was superman, or he was testing the theory of 'Red Bull' giving you wings but didn't consume enough, or playacting at tarzan and getting it horribly wrong and sustaining some damage to his back!

However, Marcus is making a slow recovery and owes a huge thanks to Sheila Walton for stepping in to keep things going.  Marcus also wishes to thank Martin Obermuller in advance of his assistance in agreeing to rehearse and conduct the band for the Christmas concert on 15th December.

10th July – Concert: St John with St Andrew, Crewe

Band members had to check that their passports were valid as they crossed the borders to travel to Crewe.  The band performed at the 'Music and Arts festival' at St John with St Andrew's church at the invite of 'Father Bill'.  The concert was well supported raising funds for both the church and the band. 

Again the band owes thanks to it's many banding friends for their continued help and support.

30^th June – LEARNER GROUP

Today sees the start of the learner group.  The group will meet each Tuesday afternoon in “Footsteps” community drop in centre in Whaley.  The format for the first few weeks will be one-to-one tuition until players become more proficient.  Band members will be on hand from 3.15pm onwards please feel free to come and join in, however it would be more advantageous for you to contact us before hand should you wish to come along (contact can either be through the bands email address or by contacting Lorraine) this way we can make sure we have instruments there for you. 

Please note – Learning Brass is open to all, no matter what age or ability!!

Here’s hoping that we will unearth our next generation of players.

28^th June – Wells Blessing Service

Following the full weekend we are sure the bands Chairperson Sheila Walton, can breathe a slight breath of relief that the weather held out for both days of festivities in the village, as she is also the Treasurer of the Carnival Committee, and we all know who the weather can effect attendance at these events.

Local band members played the hymns in the canal basin for the blessing of the wells service, they were joined by the school choir and church congregation.  Sarah was again performing her duties as Rose Queen.

27^th June – Carnival Day, with our own “Band Royalty”

Thankfully the weather continued to be good and allowed the carnival to take place without the need for umbrellas or rain macs.  The day was doubly special for band member Sarah Tolley as she was permitted to be absent from this parade due to being “Royalty”.  Sarah is the current Whaley Bridge Carnival Queen, so had to perform her Royal duties rather than her Euphonium playing ones.  However she also has a hidden artistic talent, as she took part in the decorated lamp post competition, emblazoning one next to the village school in a way to promote the band – thank you Sarah.  We must also thank all the bands “master bakers” (or is that Mr Kipling’s – Marcus) for their efforts as the bands cake stall on the field raised just short of £80.

 Again the band owes gratitude of debt to all its friends who helped on parade.

21^st June – Sun Shines on church parade

This was a joint job with the “Hollingworth Band”, whom had asked us to help with their annual parade for St Michaels Church in Ashton Under Lyne.  Thankfully the weather behaved itself which is more than can be said for our MD Marcus Jones, who played the Bass Drum, no more than 6 paces into the return journey from the open air service, he got over enthusiastic with his “new toy” and put the skin through on the drum.  All we can say is sorry Hollingworth and hope you manage to get it fixed soon.

Brave Soles

The band performed its first “Summer” concert of the season on the 16^th May in the Pavilion Gardens Buxton.  However it was a case of typical British Summer I’m afraid as the weather did its usual trick of turning for the worst as the band started its second spot of the afternoon.  Praise must go to the “brave” or is it mad soles that stayed listening to the band whilst taking shelter under umbrellas or tree canopies.

The band must give thanks also to its many friends who helped with the concert and hope that nobody ended with illness due to the inclement weather.  Particular thanks also goes to our collectors for the day who cajoled over £100 out of those “brave souls” listening, especially to Mrs. Noel Needham, the wife guest cornet player John Needham of VBS Poynton Band for her help.

The end of this report must go to the story told at the end of the afternoon by another guest cornet player Mr. Jim Murray (father of our Solo Cornet player Joanne) it went something like this – “When our Joanne her was allot younger about 14 (sorry Joanne) I was then playing Principle cornet with the Marple Band.  We were playing a park job, we had come to the end of the first half and I was feeling rather proud of myself as it had been a difficult half and I had played a difficult solo that had gone really well.  So at the interval I asked our Joanne the question “who’s your favourite cornet player in the whole world?” She turned round as quick as a flash and said “Les Hall!!” – Les as it happened was also helping us out at the concert sat at the side of Jim..........

Band Helps Others

Some of our band members have been busy as of late helping other bands at contests through the first quarter of the year.

Sheila and Laurie Walton, helped local band Fairfield Buxton to gain qualification in the 4^th Section at the Midlands Area Contest.  Our congratulations go to Fairfield and we wish them well in the finals in September. 

Lois Jones also played at the Midlands Area for Burbage Buxton in their first attempt in the 3^rd Section.

MD Marcus Jones also had to brush off his mouthpiece playing for VBS Poynton in the 1st Section at the North West Area.

Our best wishes must also go to Silk Brass, as they qualified in the 2^nd Section at the North West Area.

Then at the local contest at Buxton all 3 were in action again, this time assisting Denton band in the 4^th Section.  However they still ended playing under the baton of our own MD Marcus Jones, who stepped into the breach following Denton’s MD being involved in a road traffic accident on his way to the contest.  Denton gained a very creditable 4^th place in a field of 11 bands.  Lois though was busiest on the day playing wise as she then helped out Burbage, who took the trophy for High Peak Band and came 4^th in the 3^rd Section.

Thanks must also go to all band members that assisted with stewarding at the contest; it was a very long day, started before 9am and did not finish until early evening.

The West End Comes to Whaley

The title says it all really.  21^st March the band performed at a joint concert with the Whaley Bridge School Choir with an evening filled with music from the shows that have hit the West End.  Praise must go to the bands soloists for the evening, Carolyn Tolley – Solo Horn for “Over the Rainbow” and Sheila Walton for “Orange Juice” (Concerto De Aranjuez).  During the evening the band and school choir performed individual items, but combined at the end of each half,  the audience did not get away scot free either with band MD insisting on their participation in the encore of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

Again it would be remiss of the band not to thank its many friends from other local bands for their assistance on the night.  Also to the Uniting Church for the use of their building.

2009 Annual General Meeting

The band held its AGM at the Village Hall in Kettleshulme prior to its weekly rehearsal on 25^th February.  Following reports from all standing officers and new Musical Director, all committee posts were re-elected en-block.  The band also chose its charity for the year to which it will make contributions, East Cheshire Hospice.