Our first engagement of the year, St Patrick's Night at Kettleshulme Village Hall.
And what a good night it was, to be sure.
Certainly a colourful occasion with the band "Wearing of the Green" in a magnificent array of costumes.  
And a varied programme of Irish music, north and south, old and new with plenty of opportunity for the audience to join in with Danny, Molly and well known Irish figures.

Many thanks to our friends helping us out, Mike on Rep, Andy on Bass Trombone and Dave on Eb bass.  

All members of the Band, some accompanied by partners, enjoyed a meal at The Swan in Kettleshulme last week. Excellent food and a very sociable occasion, time to relax together after our busy Christmas season.  Many thanks to Sheila and Jenny for organising the event,  

The grand finale to our 2018 Christmas Season - a four-hour, fundraising carol fest at Tesco's in Whaley Bridge.  All credit to everyone for their stamina, both playing and manning the collection buckets.  

Huge thanks to Tesco Whaley Bridge, the staff for their hospitality and enthusiasm, and the customers for their generosity in donating a fantastic £700 to our band funds.

Our biggest Christmas event, great to play on "home ground" at Whaley Bridge Bowling Club. The programme included plenty of old favourites, as well as some new pieces.  

Thank you to James and Dave for boosting the Bass section, Andy L on the front cornet row, and Andy C, with an eleventh hour switch to euphonium.  We really appreciate all your support.

Carols at Alderbrook is a real high spot in our Christmas schedule!  The audience are so enthusiastic in both their singing and their applause.  And some even join Sheila on the podium to conduct the band.  
Everything we played went down well, with Rudolph and Jingle Bells the special favourites.
What a privilege to perform for such a receptive crowd of people.

Karen and Jane joined Stephen and Ian of New Mills Band to make up a brass quartet to play for the carol service for staff and volunteers at Lyme Hall.  A very occasion in the Drawing Room, followed by refreshments in the Servants Hall.

A lively evening at The Pack Horse in New Mills, playing a programme of carols and Christmas pieces to a capacity crowd.  Despite having already conducted a gig earlier in the day, Mint was full of energy and enthusiasm encouraging them to join in which they did with gusto. They had come to sing, and sing they did! 

An excellent evening - both the music and the hotpot supper.
Thanks to Chris on Bass and Shane on Tenor Horn for joining us, we really appreciate your help.

Lunch time carols today at The Swan, Kettleshulme.  An enthusiastic audience, who despite the chilly wind, joined us outside to sing along, fuelled by glasses of mulled wine.  And as the level in the glasses went down, the volume of voices went up.  And afterwards we adjourned inside for welcome refreshments courtesy of Rob and Janet, which absolutely hit the spot -  many thanks for your hospitality.

This was a new venue for the Band, and we received a warm welcome from the Pastor, Rob, and a small but very appreciates audience.  A bit of a squeeze to get us all in, and rather an unusual formation with three members of the horn section seated in the pulpit.  And what a raffle! Virtually no-one in either the Band or the audience went home empty handed.
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Despite a wet start to the day, the weather came good for the Lantern Parade and lighting of Whaley Bridge Tree in the station forecourt, where the Band played for the Nativity Service, and then more carols in the Mechanics Institute Christmas Market.