The Cobham Band on Saturday 20th March entered the London and Southern Counties Regional Brass Band Championships in the Fourth Section on the test piece Saint-Saens Variations by Phillip Sparke which was held at Stevenage Arts and Leisure Centre.  The adjudicator was Brian Buckley and the band was placed 12^th in an entry of 17 bands, with one withdrawal (See below for Results).  Presentations of thanks were made to Nigel Hunt and Alec Warne by the band’s Chairman, Tim Lovett at the rehearsal on the eve of the contest which was held at St. John’s Church, West Byfleet at the kind permission of The Revd Alan Elkins.  Nigel and Alec are both members of Mole Valley Band and kindly offered to play at the Contest with permission from their Musical Director, Andy Wilson, which is greatly appreciated by the band.

One presentation however had to be withdrawn, as only minutes before the band received some very welcomed news from Ian Carter, who was originally deputising with the band at the Contest that he would be playing the next day as a full member of the band.  The band is delighted to announce Ian’s appointment on Second Horn completing the band’s Horn Section.  Ian is a former member of Yiewsley and West Drayton Band having played in the past alongside Jacqueline Ruel on Tenor Horn when David Ruel was Conductor and it was in fact Ian who introduced David to Yiewsley & West Drayton Band when they were at Bishopshalt School, Hillingdon together.  Ian is also the current scaba (Southern Counties Amateur Band Association) Secretary, to which David, Matthew Ruel and Pat Steele, the band’s secretary are also Executive / Team Members.  No stranger, Ian has played with the band in the past, only last year on Greenwich Bandstand, London and in his capacity as scaba Secretary has presented long service awards on numerous occasions to members of the band, most recently at The Menuhin Hall last year, where the band performed along side Ian Porthouse’s IP Brass.

Ian is a very welcomed addition, joining in a year which promises to be one of the busiest years in the bands history, with performances at Westminster Abbey, St. James’ Park, London, The Menuhin Hall in addition to the many engagements the band undertakes throughout the Borough of Elmbridge.

The band’s next concert is on Saturday 22^nd May, 7.30pm at Cobham Village Hall, Lushington Drive, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2LU.

Tickets: Adults £8.00; Concessions £6.00; Under 18’s £3.00

For more information and tickets telephone: (01372) 374266.  Tickets are also available from Sheargold Pianos, 162 Anyards Road, Cobham – Telephone: (01932) 866577.

Results:

1. Battle Town (J. Penton), 13*

2. L.G.B. Brass (I. Stewart), 12*

3. Amersham Band (P. Fisher), 4*

4. Harwich R.B.L. Brass (A. Sanders), 10

5. Bradwell Silver (B. Keech), 8

6. Bletchington Silver (N. Hall), 5

7. E.P.B. Brass (M. Turner), 11

8. Cold Ash Brass (S. Sizeland), 16

9. Snowdown Colliery (K. Spencer), 15

10. Royston Town Band (S. Earley), 9

11. Great Yarmouth Brass (S. Philpot), 2

12. Cobham Band (D. Ruel), 14

13. King’s Lynn Town (S. Ingham), 7

14. M.K. Development Band (D. Johnston), 6

15. Charles Church Camberley (R. Cherry), 1

16. Letchworth Garden City (T. Welch), 3

*Top 3 bands qualify for Harrogate

Newmarket Town Band (L. Ager), Withdrawn