The Summer Season

All of a sudden the Band has come to the end of its summer engagements and we’re left wondering where the time has gone!

In May, the Band played at its annual concert to end the St. Dunstan’s Festival where all three groups gave excellent performances. The Foundation Band and Training Bands outdid themselves to the delight of everyone present – it is lovely to see the way the players are progressing. As a side note, several players have already moved up from the Foundation band and into the Training Band. Similarly, a number of the Training Band members have begun to stay on after its rehearsal and are playing in the Senior Band until the 9pm break when they go home – they are also appearing in concerts with the Senior Band.

Early June saw the Band playing in a very successful D-Day Memorial Concert in Brede which ended with the lighting of the local beacon. This was followed by the Band giving a concert outside the local large Co-op store in Cranbrook and, two weeks week later, both the Foundation and Training Bands gave also gave a performance in the same place (this is the first time that both groups have performed independently of the Senior Band and it was a great success). The concerts were to recognise the grant which the Band received from the Co-op Local Community Fund. This has enabled us to purchase hoodies and polo shirts for the youngsters, as well as several instruments – these are essential if we are to continue to expand both of the groups.

July saw the Band performing to an appreciative audience at the Halfway House in Brenchley followed by a similarly good outing at Tonbridge Castle a week later where the audience were applauding even before we had finished playing!

Our thanks to all our deps this season who covered player absences, including Hazel Walsh (Trombone), David Cooper (Soprano), Geoff Clarke (Percussion), Chris Willard (Cornet), Colin Reid (Trombone) & Chris and Alice Yelf (Basses).

As we go into the summer concert break, it is time to start looking at the music for the latter part of the year beginning with the Band’s annual concert in aid of Demelza Hospice which will take place in St Dunstan’s Church on 12th October.