Sat, 04 Feb 2012 Sat 28th January found the band at it's annual concert held jointly with 3 local choirs in the presence of the Mayor. The band played 2 sets, including the first play out of the Area Test Piece English Folk Song suite. This was also the first engagement for our new percussion player Dave Belton, who previously played for City of Chester Band - welcome to the band Dave, we are delighted to have you on board.
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Sat, 28 Jan 2012 The gallery has been updated Click on Gallery to see the band in action in 2011
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Fri, 27 Jan 2012 Death of a stalwart band supporter With great sadness, the band announces the death of Marlene Mitton. Marlene was the wife of our late player Richard, and she was a stalwart supporter of the band for many many years.
The band send their deepest condolences to family and their banding family and friends
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Tue, 03 Jan 2012 A busy December for the band ... which started with our Xmas concert at Sale Waterside theatre, jointly with the Alma Singers and in the presence of the Mayor of Trafford, Band President Cllr Jane Baugh. Some new Xmas music including ' Tis the Season' where the audience were challenged by John to identify all the Xmas pieces woven into the piece. John was off to New Zealand for Xmas , so was thanked for all his hard work with the band this year and a gift. Then it was onto weekly trips to Lyme Park and the Trafford Centre, carolling to raise funds for both the band but also the Mayor of Trafford's chosen charities: Stroke Association, Parkinson's Society and Altrincham Hospital League of Friends. At Lyme Park we had guest conductor Peter Rabbit, as the house also had an exhibition of Beatrix Potter drawings showing. This year none of our trips to Lyme park were snowed off, but those travelling from the warmer climes of Trafford were surprised to find a dusting of snow on the final Sunday there, enough to look magical and to bring out the sledgers without causing any problems. Another memorable moment was Steve playing a jingle bells solo in the courtyard so that Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggywinkle could dance to entertain the children queueing to meet Father Xmas. At the Trafford centre we had players from Faireys and Black Dyke stop by to speak to the band, sadly minus their mouthpieces, as well as a few former players from the band coming along to play or just say hello. Steve's son Ewan, now aged 10 months came along and conducted a couple of carols too, with a little assistance from dad! At the final session at the Trafford Centre the best dressed instrument award went to Viv Thorpe, with Nicolette Hilton in second, Karen and Angela Joint 3rd, a special award to the baritone section and also to the best dressed collector, Viv's partner Julia resplendant in cotton wool topped red wellies . The Golden Bucket award for the most prolific collector went for the third year running to Kevin, and the Heroes of Xmas for doing all the jobs were Andrew and Kevin. Finally a thank you gift to Mr Xmas, Steve Ash, our hard working Concert Secretary.
The band then returned to the Band room bar for an excellent end of year buffet and drinks.
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Tue, 03 Jan 2012 In the week before Xmas Solo Horn Mary had her baby... ...not in a stable and it was a girl though!! Many congratulations from the band to Mary and James on the arrival of Phoebe May on 22nd December .
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Wed, 14 Dec 2011 The band linked up with Sale Salvation Army and our Training Band to perform a concert raising money for a trip to a Missionary Hospital in Zambia. Andrew Mackereth, the well known Salvation Army Composer and Arranger lived in Zambia as a child when his parents worked at the hospital so we were delighted that he came to be the guest conductor in the second half of the concert when the bands played together. The majority of the pieces were his own such as On A Mission and Oak Creek In the first half, each band played a set, a special mention to the Training Band for their fantastic rendition of Land of Hope and Glory, under the baton of John Dickinson, and from the two senior bands of the cornets playing Trumpets Wild and the Trombones with their version of I Will Follow Him, from the film Sister Act. This was the first job for our new front row player, Nicolette, welcome. Thank you to Russ and Dean for all their great endeavours organising such a succesful and enjoyable evening and to John for his hard work preparing the bands for the concert. A link to some photos of the evening is below http://homepage.mac.com/harrydobbs/SCAN/index7.html
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Sun, 13 Nov 2011 A busy weekend for the band
Friday was 11.11.11 because of this date a special service was held at the Sale War Memorial at 11am. Attended by the Mayor and with the Last Post played by our Soprano Cornet player Steve Ash. Saturday found the whole band in Sale Town Square playing to support the Poppy Collectors. This was Frank's first job with the band on Solo Euphonium and as it was also our Solo Horn Mary's last -for a just a while as she is now on Maternity leave, she was presented with the traditional bouquet of flowers. A youtube link to the band performing in the square is below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYHK7e7z4Qo On a bright, mild and calm Sunday morning the band assembled at the masonic hall to lead the Remembrance day parade and play at the service. This year the Last Post was played magnificently by our MD John. Particular thanks to Steve for a huge ammount of organisation this weekend and for playing at 3 events
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Thu, 20 Oct 2011 The band would like to welcome two new players Frank Wood on Solo Euphonium and Nicolette Hilton on Front Row Cornet
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Mon, 26 Sep 2011 The band played in Victoria park in Widnes at the Steam Rally A glorious sunny autumn day on a magnificent bandstand .
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Sun, 25 Sep 2011 The band made a welcome return to Timperley Country Fair ... on a gorgeous early autumn day and in the presence of the Mayor of Trafford Cllr Jane Baugh, the band stationed in a splendid gazebo in the main ring, entertained the audience playing in 2 sets including the foot tapping Lord of the Dance. It was 2nd cornet Angela Kaye's first job with the band - welcome to Angela, and also marked the 4th anniversary of John Dickinson taking up the baton as Musical Director.
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Tue, 13 Sep 2011 The band played to entertain the wedding guests as they arrived at the reception Capesthorne Hall near Macclesfield is a Jacobean style house set in over 100 acres of parkland. A wonderful venue for an August wedding The groom has a love of brass bands having recently worked on a TV series The Dales which featured a band and so had wanted a band at his wedding. The band played first at the entrance to the hall as the bride and groom and guests arrived after the ceremony and then on the rear lawn as the guests enjoyed pre dinner drinks.
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Sun, 24 Jul 2011 Victorian Fair in Ashton on Mersey Saturday 13th July 2011 The rain lashed the band gazebo as the band gathered wondering if anyone would come outside to listen. Yet still the tombola stall helpers remained stolidly resolute under their own gazebo lending encouragement to the idea that the weather would abate. Then the tombola stall was moved inside. Setting up in the band in the church followed. There was not much space at the front of the church so the bass section sat at the front of the choir stalls and the band packed into the narrow space below in front of the front pews. In spite of all that the band started close to the prescribed start time. The band played in two thirty minute halves although the first half was extended by Steve Ash, our MD for the day, when after turning to face the audience after one piece towards the end of that half he found the audience had suddenly swelled by 500% so we repeated a couple of numbers so these newcomers could appreciate our playing. Little did he realise that the newcomers were there to watch their children who were to perform a play after the band had finished. The band played their programme well and seemed to be appreciated and the acoustics were good. The venue worked well in spite of the cramped play area and many valued the opportunity to play in St Martin’s which has a history going back several centuries. Needless to say soon after we had started playing the clouds cleared and the sun shone!
Chas
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