Mid Summer Fair

The band performed another summer concert on Saturday 11th June at Hole Park, our second at the venue in quick succession. Following our previous trip to support the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations a week or so earlier, this time we performed for the Wealden Times Midsummer Fair on a lovely sunny afternoon.Our normal conductor, Ian Lanceley was playing with another band in the North of the Country in the Whit Friday March competitions so it was guest conductor John Groves who normally conducts the Kent Police band, who had the baton today.

Whilst the programme for the day remained largely the same a our previous outing, it is always interesting playing under another conductor, as each will have a slightly different interpretation of how they think a piece should be played.

Ian’s absence also gave certain members of the band (The largely all female cornet back row in full support of our Welsh Principal Cornet) the opportunity to vote for a more casual dress code on the day and abandon our normal bow ties, when this move was approved by band chairman, David Newsom, the rest of us had no choice but to follow suite, a daring move that would surely have been quashed under a “stricter” conductor !

The large and appreciative audience enjoyed the sounds of the band while they partook of the many speciality food and drink stalls in the immediate vicinity. Indeed many members of the band also partook at the interval break, with quite a few bringing back speciality Gin’s and Beers, not all of which managed to stay unopened until after they got home.

Our thanks go to John for a very enjoyable concert and to Ben Bishop and Hazel Walsh for stepping in to cover Drum and Trombone absences.

Our congratulations also go to Emma our Flugel player and her new “Fiancé” Charles, (who provided todays photos) on the announcement of their engagement this week.

Emma – having to adjust to playing with a heavy ring on her finger !

You can view all of our photos on Flickr at Cranbrook Town Band’s albums | Flickr