I feel honoured, to be the first person, to have been asked to write a few words summing up the band's events and engagements for June 2015, on this newly revamped band website. At first I thought it would be quite tricky however looking back through my diary I see we actually had quite a busy month. We had four regular weekly rehearsals where a lot of the hard work and note crunching takes place, and we held one Sunday band. This is an opportunity for those with reasonable (and I include myself ) sight reading skills and more experienced players to get together for an hour and play through some of the older pieces in the band library, some of which may not have been seen for some years, or some new pieces which Simon thinks might be suitable. Some of the pieces go okay and some not so well. It's a good chance to try pieces out and get a feel for them, if they do sound okay Simon may try and introduce them to the full band. If you fancy coming along, its only for an hour and once a month, so join in, but do be prepared to sight read. Other than the regular meeting we had three fairly big events in June, a thanks giving service for the life of Roy Monk, a weekend trip to the Isle of Wight, and our annual visit to St Cross Fete. On the 17th of the month at Chandler's Ford Methodist church a small band was assembled to play for the thanks giving service for Roy Monk. A few past members joined up with some of the existing band to provide the music for the hymns to give Roy the send off he deserved. Roy Monk was the co-founder of the Boys Brigade company at Chandler's Ford (formerly 1st Eastleigh) , and the founder and first bandmaster of the band. The thanks giving service was a fitting occasion with some humorous tributes as well as the musical accompaniment paying tribute to Roy's contribution not only to the Boys Brigade but also the church. The weekend of the 20-21st June saw the band make the short trip across the water to the Isle of Wight, an overseas trip! Our first engagement of the weekend was to perform on the makeshift platform on the sea front at Ryde, to open the celebrations for Armed Forces Weekend. This was quite an honour for us to be asked to perform and open the events, and we performed for approximately 45 minutes playing many pieces from traditional Marches, Disney Classics and pieces from the musicals. Later that Saturday evening we had our second function which was a concert at Ryde Methodist church. Again a range of pieces were played, some of which had featured during our morning set, and some different. The solo cornet section performed the challenging piece 'A Bugler's Holiday' which we opened the concert with. It was good that so many of the band's membership managed to attend the weekend as not only was this a band engagement, but it was also a good opportunity for us all to spend time in each other's company away from just rehearsals. Due to other commitments however some of the members returned to Chandler's Ford on the Saturday evening. Around 25 members thought bedded down at Ryde Methodist church for a night's sleep (not necessarily a good night's sleep). The Sunday morning saw the band perform our third and final engagement of the weekend where we were asked to lead the music for the Sunday morning service. I must take this chance to thank Janet and all her helpers at Ryde for all their hospitality over the weekend, hopefully our ties with 2nd Ryde company will grow further since the merger of the Isle of Wight battalion and our own South West Hants battalion. We returned home to Chandler's Ford during the Sunday afternoon over calm seas (thankfully, as there was a distinct lack of life boats visible on the ferry), worn out and ready for an afternoon nap. I hope all who participated on the trip enjoyed themselves as this was the first overnight band trip we have managed since the last Denmark trip, approximately 10 years ago. On Saturday 27 June the band were once again asked to perform at St Cross Fete. It was our pleasure to open the fete with an opening set of approximately 30 minutes. We then went onto pay a further two sets interspersed with the Punch and Judy show and the Morris dancers. Thankfully the sun shone brightly all afternoon, after the wash out of 2014, and the crowds flocked in, many of whom sat and listened to the band's performance, hopefully they all went away suitably impressed. That just about sums up the June 2015 events. If any of the band membership wish to give feedback or suggestion
s for any new events we could participate in then please approach your section representative, either Claudia, Simon D or Stephen, or speak to myself or Simon F. Remember to keep practicing over the summer holidays, then come the start of the new session it wont be such hard work to hit the top notes and get your lip back into condition.
