Although Churches Together have held a service for Good Friday on Eccles Pike for many years, this year was different - for the first time ever the singing was accompanied by Whaley Bridge Band.

The event presented us with a number of challenges, not least the logistics of getting the players and instruments up to the top of the hill as the car parking is somewhat limited. 

But we made it, and here we all are sheltering as best we can from the wind.
...and pull the camera back and here are the rest of the congregation even higher up the hill than us!

Just as well we have our warm winter jackets, exactly what we needed to keep us warm and dry.

Well done WB Band on rising to the occasion, both musically and geographically. 

The Band joined the residents of Chinley to celebrate the opening of their new Community Centre.

What a contrast to the last time we played in Chinley in the spring, when the heavens opened for the
Queen's Platinum Jubilee and we got soaked. Perfect weather this time as we sat on the balcony in the sunshine playing a selection from our current programme.

The new Community Centre is an amazing place, and what a privilege for the Band to be there on the opening day.  Thank you, Chinley, for inviting us to join you on this very special occasion.

Our first engagement of 2025 was an "in-house" event to celebrate a "special" birthday for our euphonium player, Karen. And what a special occasion it was. 

The Band had a little help from some friends - cornets Lou and Rhianne, all the way from Yorkshire (and an extra birthday girl as Lou shares the same date as Karen,) Alice, on flugel, Harry on bass and our regular dep John, with a debut appearance on tenor horn.  Thank you one and all.

And here's something amazing - although Karen has been playing with WB Band for several years, this was the first time her husband, Derek, had ever heard us play! And, what's more, he really enjoyed it. 

Headline News:  £217 raised for Band Funds
                             at Mechanics Spring Coffee Morning
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing achievement - consumers, washers up, bakers,and raffle supporters.

Special mentions for Christine who organised the event, and Pip and Gaynor for service beyond the call of duty in the kitchen.  

This was the last Saturday coffee morning at the Mechanics before it closed until September for refurbishment including the installation of a lift.

Two events in our final week, starting with Carol singing at The Paper Mill in Chinley on Wednesday 18th December.
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A dark and miserable evening, which didn't look very promising when we arrived - only one person in the covered outdoor space, having a smoke.  Hardly the throng of enthusiastic carol singers we were hoping for. 

But as soon as we struck up - there they all were, appeared from nowhere as if by magic.
Fortified with mugs of hot mulled wine and pints of ale, they were in good voice and sang with gusto.
And donated generously to band funds.  Thank you one and all.

And last of all, our Coffee Morning on Saturday in WB Mechanics Institute.

And not just Coffee and Cake, but Carols too - an ensemble of players in the Reading Room (or should that be "Band Room?") plus a guest appearance by the WB Churches Together Chorus, who dropped in as part of their carol singing tour of the town. 

Four events in four days....starting at Cromford Court on Thursday afternoon.
And were they in good voice, particularly the gentlemen with two amazing soloists for Gold and Frankincense in We Three Kings of Orient Are

Then a day off before the Big Sing at WB Uniting Church on Saturday morning, and more  carols Whaley style including While Shepherds Watched to the tune of Sweet Chiming Christmas Bells. 

Just time for a quick coffee, before it's on to Kettleshulme to play carols for the revellers enjoying
A Victorian Christmas at The Swan. Thank you for your generous donations to Band funds, very much appreciated, and also to Rob and the team at the Swan for providing a tasty lunch for hungry bandsmen.

24 hours later we rolled up at Brierley Green Church for their ​Carol Service.  All our Christmas events are special, but this one particularly so because three members of the Band are also members of the congregation. 

Yes, it is us, even though it looks like we are all wearing black jackets, just a trick of the candlelight.

Eleven events and still two more to come.  What stamina!

We were welcomed inside the church hall at St John's Church Furness Vale for the last of our Tree Lighting events, as Storm Darragh was already in full swing on Friday evening.   

An early start on Saturday for The Big Brekkie and carols at Chinley Independent Chapel, and another rendering of The Twelve Hours of Christmas led by Reverend Foday.

The last event of the weekend was at Holy Trinity Church WB for the grand finale of the Christmas Tree Festival. 

Everybody's favourite carols and Christmas songs, and even a Rocking Around The Christmas Tree to match the music.  Good planning or just good luck? 

Thank to Holy Trinity Church for inviting us to take part in the Christmas Tree Festival, and of course special thanks to our guest player, Alice, on Eb Bass, no band is complete without a bass line.  

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.