Our grand Christmas finale on home ground in the Transhipment Warehouse in Whaley Bridge.
As if the prospect of hearing their own band wasn't enough, the winter sunshine brought the villagers out in droves, a great crowd for the  last fixture of the season.

The Transhipment Warehouse has become the place to be in Whaley Bridge, where it's all happening.
What a privilege for the Band to be a feature of the the Whaley scene, not just now at Christmas but back in the summer when we first started playing again after the covid lockdown. 
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​Thank you to Nev and WB Canal Group for your hospitality, hope you'll have us back next year.

More carols at the Old Hall Inn.  Although the singing was a little subdued to start with, it got better and better once the gluhwein worked it's magic on the vocal cords.

Thank you all for a great evening. 

       

With alarm bells ringing about the new Covid variant, we erred on the side of caution and played outside the church.  Safer for everyone.  The congregation wore masks (which accounts for the carol singing sounding rather more subdued than usual!) but a mask is not an option while playing a brass instrument.

And for a "Plan B" it worked very well.  In addition to accompanying carols in the service (yes, they could hear us through the open porch door,) we played a few others as people arrived, plus our traditional last three - Jingle Bells, Rudolph and We Wish You a Merry Christmas  - at the end, as the light was fading. 

And unlike last week, we struck lucky with the weather, cold but dry and no wind, a window of opportunity between two horrendous days.

Many thanks to Rob and the parishioners for your hospitality.  As always, a pleasure to play in Brierley Green.

This should have been a picture of the Band playing this afternoon at the Christmas Trees Festival in
Trinity Church in Whaley Bridge.  The day got off to a brilliant start in sunshine, but this didn't last and by
mid morning the snow had started.  Not just a few light flakes, but serious stuff settling on already icy ground.

Rather than risk players' safety on treacherous roads, we took the decision to cancel our performance at the church, who were very understanding and fully agreed that safety comes first. 

And with the benefit of hindsight........it was exactly the right decision as the snow continued throughout the afternoon and by 4pm, when we would have been driving home, was lying several inches thick.  Disappointing that we couldn't play, but always better safe than sorry. 

Whaley Bridge woke up to winter this morning after heavy overnight snow turned the village white.
But that didn't stop the celebrations and it was "Christmas as Usual" in the village.  When the Lantern parade arrived in the station car park the nativity service got underway with the Band accompanying the carol singing.

The villagers were in good voice and just to prove it sang a verse of Hark the Herald all on their own without the Band.  Well done the choir!

And after the service, more carols - plus of course Rudolph and Jingle Bells - outside the Mechanics Institute.  Although the warmth inside the Mechanics was very tempting on such a cold evening, we stayed "covid safe" in the fresh air with our Christmas spirit keeping us warm. 

After missing out last year due to Covid lockdown, Remembrance Day was once again celebrated in
Whaley Bridge, with the newly restored War Memorial looking magnificent.

The Band started the service with a stirring march to inspire the procession as it climbed up the hill bearing flags and standards, and accompanied the congregation for the hymns and two verses of the National Anthem.

And of course, the Last Post and Reveille.  Many thanks to Javan a very moving performance.

The rebuilt Whaley Bridge War Memorial was blessed and rededicated at at service in the Memorial Park on Saturday 4th September.   The Last Post and Reveille was played by the our Solo Cornet Aiden Quinn, who did the Band proud at our first official engagement since the pandemic began.

Playing on your own, unaccompanied by the rest of the Band is a real challenge, and Aiden rose to the occasion like a pro. These days, the Last Post is often a recording, and as Whaley Bridge remembered its fallen heroes, the occasion was especially poignant having a local resident playing "live." 

Thank you, Aiden, from the Band and from Whaley Bridge.  
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Same time, same place, and another session of hymns and marches on Sunday in Whaley Canal Basin.  Word had got round about the good time that was had by the six of us last week, and five more members of the band came along too - three cornet players, plus Lorraine and Ray W/O.

Lorraine and Ray are both recovering from serious health issues which occurred earlier in the year and are not yet up to playing, but it was fantastic that they were there to give moral support.

And weather permitting, back again next Sunday. And this time, not just the red hymn book and the road march pad,  we now have a new challenge. 

This is a collection of 50 well known pieces of music arranged for small ensembles, perfect for us on a Sunday afternoon.  The play list includes over a dozen National Anthems, as well as joyful classics and relaxing melodies.  Some will indeed be challenging, so will be left for later, but we have already chosen our first three - Amazing Grace, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind and I Vow to Thee My Country.  Lots of incentive for home practice this week!

A few of the band locals decided to take advantage of the fine weather to meet in Whaley Bridge Canal Basin for an impromptu outdoor session of hymns and marches. 

Despite it being March last year since we played together, we sounded pretty good.  Sheila counted us in and kept us together as well as playing her flugel. 

A great day, much enjoyed by both players and passers by.  What a  relief that despite the long lockdown layoff we hadn't forgotten what to to.!