The first of three triple bill weekends in a row - what a busy band we are!

First stop, Buxworth on Friday evening for the lighting of their Christmas Tree.

Saturday morning and it's the Kettleshulme Christmas Coffee Morning in the Village Hall, our band room.
Always a pleasure to play for the Kettleshulme crowd, with a welcome brew and home made cake to refresh thirsty bandsmen after a long blow.

A few hours off, and it's Christmas Lights in Whaley Bridge.  A break with tradition at a new venue in the
Canal Basin, much more hospitable than the station car park of previous years, and a great improvement.  After the lantern Parade arrived in the Basin down the old tramway, the music began lead by WB Band and Whaley Choir.

And to finish off, a few more carols outside the Mechanics Institute before rain stopped play.

We're off! Christmas has officially started for WB Band. 
An amazing event at Chinley  for the first of our Tree Lighting events.  Just as well the road was closed at Squirrel Green when virtually all the Chinley residents gathered to welcome Christmas.  A break in the weather and we stayed dry. Enthusiastic singing including the Primary School Choir with Silent Night, a real challenge for the Band to play pianississimo so we didn't drown them out,

Then round round the corner to St Mary's Church for more festivities, and a grand finale of
The Twelve Hours of Christmas, lead with great gusto by Rev Foday and accompanied by WBB.
And last of all, a well earned brew and first mince pies of the season.

Six members of the band attended a Masterclass at Thornsett Bandroom, run by Adam Bokaris, prinicpal euphonium with Black Dyke Band. How amazing is that!

Along with around fifteen other local bandsmen, we were introduced to "buzzing" and a number of other techniques to help us sound better, not only as individual players, but also as an ensemble playing together.

Teamwork and listening to each each, that's the secret.   So now we know what to do, the hard part is actually doing it.

Thank you, Adam, for an excellent day, and also to Dave G and Thornsett Band for planning the event and making all the arrangements.

Prior to the service in the park, the Last Post is sounded the War Memorials at Bridgemont and Furness Vale, and this year the Bugler was our principal cornet, Holly.  Well done Holly, we're so proud of you. The Last Post is always emotional, but even more so when the player is the same age as those who gave their lives for their country.

And huge thanks to Rhian, Sheila and Laurie's granddaughter, for playing the Last Post, another moving performance by a young player.