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.! 

Whaley Bridge paid tribute to those who laid down their lives for their country at a service of Remembrance in the Memorial Park on Sunday.  

The Band accompanied the hymns and the National Anthem, and Javan played the Last Post and Reveille as the Two Minutes Silence was observed.  A very moving occasion.

Thank you to everyone who donated to The Christie at our concert in October.
A good day all round - we thoroughly enjoyed it, hopefully you did too and a sizeable sum raised for a very worthy cause.  Perfect!

Each year we do a charity fundraising concert and this year our we chose to support the new 
Christie Cancer Care Centre Macclesfield.  It is always a pleasure to perform on our "home ground"
in Whaley Bridge, and the Uniting Church is the perfect venue for a sociable Sunday afternoon occasion.

The concert was well attended and the programme much enjoyed, especially our own Whaley Bridge March.
And £600 was collected for The Christie Charitable Fund, with a further £75 to be added in respect of Gift Aided donations. What a fantastic result! Huge thanks to everyone for their generosity.

And last but certainly not least, the "support Crew."
Just as important as the players, they make things happen.
A round of applause for Sheila, Jenny, Sue, Tracey and Enid for welcoming people as they arrived, serving refreshments during the interval and clearing up afterwards. 
And to Sam for the "technical" bit running the PA system, which worked brilliantly providing the speaker remembered to turn the microphone on! 

In February, seven members of the band - Laurie and Javan on Cornet, Carolyn and Lorraine on tenor horns, Jane on baritone, Karen on euphonium and Jerry on bass - made a recording to accompany folk song.
The song, entitled "Do I Know My Way,"  was written and performed by Lorraine's cousin David Booth, and Mat Bayfield, the other half of the folk duo Bayfield Booth. 

We were greatly saddened to hear last week that Mat had passed away. Although most of us had met him only once, during the recording session, he made a lasting impression with his engaging personality and musical ability.

As a tribute to Mat, the recording was played during our Concert for Christie's last weekend.  It is a lovely song and the audience listened spell bound to the combination of brass and voices.

Thank you, Mat, for giving us the opportunity to make music with you.

The Band was honoured to be invited to participate in this service of thanks to all the organisations and individuals who helped to avert disaster when the dam was damaged in the summer.
Not only was the church full to capacity, but there was live streaming in the upstairs hall and on WB website, and the audience included many local VIPs.  No pressure then!

After a short selection of pieces while the guests assembled, we accompanied the hymn and the National Anthem (two verses!) during the service.  And as a grand finale afterwards, the first public performance for decades of The Whaley Bridge March, which went down very well. And good experience in preparation for next Sunday's fundraising concert when it will feature once again.   

Many thanks to John for helping us out on euphonium.