Last stop for the Band before Christmas was Cromford Court. As always, a great pleasure to play to such an appreciative audience.  Thank you not only for singing with such enthusiasm, but also for the amazing selection of mince pies and copious cups of tea which followed.

It's been a pretty full on few weeks for the Band, but we've had a great time and it just remains to say

Happy Christmas and all the Best for 2023

Somehow The Paper Mill managed to squeeze us inside despite the place being so busy. What a relief!
Minus 7 degrees outside.  Even the band winter jackets heaved a sigh of relief, and they like the cold.

We did wonder if there might be more interest in France v Morocco, but once we got going the football didn't stand a chance. Thank you to everyone who sang with such enthusiasm and contributed so generously to band funds.

Saturday morning began with the first snow of the winter - not looking very promising for getting to Kettleshulme to play carols for the Victorian Christmas revellers at The Swan.
But by lunch time conditions had improved and it was "game on" after all.  An outdoor performance but we stayed warm thanks to our new winter band jackets and to the outdoor heaters under the parasol. 

It's Sunday so it must be Brierley Green Church Carol Service.  Snug and warm inside this year.  And the first performance with the Band for Pippa, our newest recruit, on tenor horn.  Although strictly speaking, Pippa isn't a new recruit - she first played with Whaley Bridge Band as a youngster, and has now returned after a sabbatical of 50 years.  Surely this must be a world record for the longest career break ever from banding. 

Well played, Pippa! And welcome back to Whaley Bridge Band, it's great to have you on board again.
Thanks to deps Mike and David for boosting the cornet section - with some carols running to SIX verses, we were very grateful for their help.