Author: cobham

John Innes Park, Merton

 

The band played near the bandstand (the bandstand is very ornate but far too small to fit a full brass band!) in John Innes Park in Merton on the 29th of June. This park was the garden of a nearby Manor House and it was bequethed to the people of Merton by John Innes, whose horicultural institute went on to develop a range of composts.

There was a very good sized audience who came with picnics to enjoy the annual “Music in the Park” event. Solos included Beryl McMillan playing Concerto de Arenjuez on Flugel and Jeff Bamber playing The Power of Love on Horn. Trombones featured in The Bold Gendarmes and front row cornets featured in Buglars Holiday. The band was led by Marc Edwards as our Musical Director was unable to attend this engagment. The weather was a complete contrast to our previous engagement – warm and sunny!

St Johns Church

The weather was not on our side at the annual Fete at St Johns Church in Byfleet on the 15th of June!  Just as we reached the interval it poured down with rain and the most of the people at the event either ran for cover or went home.  The band moved into the church for the second half and had a small appreciative audience.

Busy weekend

 

The weekend of the 18th/19th May was a busy one for the band, with an evening concert at Cobham Village Hall on the Saturday and a morning contest at the Hawth Theatre in Crawley on the Sunday.

The theme for the concert was ‘Music from the Med’ and featured music from that area although there were slight detours through Devon, Chicago and Moscow! Solos included cornets playing Bugler’s Holiday, flugel playing Concerto De Aranjuez and percussion playing Drummer’s Delight. A comic feature saw the trombones playing The Bold Gendarmes complete with policemen helmets and swigging from (empty) beer bottles!

The Entertainment Contest consisted of four pieces of music. Points are awarded for (amongst others) deportment, entertainment value, quality of playing and also whther the programme of music is completed within a certain timescale. We left with a prize – The Charles Bushell Memorial Trophy, for the Highest Unplaced 3rd Section band.