It was a great honour to be invited by Foday, the Minister of Chinley Independant Chapel to lead the community hymn singing during a day of celebrations at the Chapel.  The occasion was to mark the
350th anniversary of Isaac Watts, founder member of the Congregations Church movement.

As well as half a dozen hymns, we also played a couple of marches and Highland Cathedral all of which went down very well with the congregation, who sang three verses of everything with great enthusiasm.

The Band were so wrapped up in the occasion that no-one remembered to take any photographs.  Ooops!
So you'll have to use your imagination to picture the pews filled with bandsmen . . . . . . . .

  . . . . . . . .players in the three rows at the back looking this way, and Sheila conducting from the far end of the pew end on to the camera.

And in the great bass band tradition, "Bandsmen's Teas" were part of the deal and we were treated to an excellent lunch afterwards in the Sunday Schoolroom opposite the Chapel.

Thank you, Foday and your congregation, for inviting WB Band to share in your celebrations in your amazing Chapel and for your warm hospitality.  Hope we will have the opportunity to play here again before too long. 

We were delighted when WB Band was again  invited to join forces with Over Alderley Band at
Rainow Church Fete.  What an amazing experience to ride through the village on a trailer sitting on hay bales playing Yankee Doodle Dandy!
​Surreal or what?

The ride was over all too quickly, but that wasn't the end of the show.
The "massed bands" of Over Alderley and Whaley Bridge played two sets during the afternoon to entertain the crowd.  Fortunately we were under shelter (or at least most of us were - a few players on the windward side did get a little damp) and it was a great sense of occasion to play so well together after only one joint rehearsal.

Many thanks to Rob and Lindsay, who play with both bands, for arranging this joint venture.
Hope we'll be back again next year.

The dismal weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of the residents of Cromford Court at our annual summer concert.  Normally we play outside in the summer, and go inside at Christmas when it's a real squeeze to get everyone in.  But without the 10 foot high Norway Spruce there's actually plenty of space for the Band.

Apparently there was a football match being played at the same time, but it can't have been anything important as there was a great turnout for us.  A mixed programme, including the opportunity to join in and sing.  Even though we forgot to bring the song sheets....ooops!....they knew most of the words anyway, especially the rude ones!

And cream tea to follow!  Nothing bandsmen like better than tea and scones.  Thank you Gill and all the residents for your hospitality and warm welcome.