last update 1st February 2010

Current Up-To-Date News

New Faces in the Bandroom A Return Visit to Music Under the Pyramid Concert in St. Paul's Ruislip Manor YWDB Descend on Harrogate Rhythm and Brass Concert Preparation 2nd Place at the Areas! Farewell to Gordon

Jan 10
New Faces in the Bandroom

The band continues to attract new players. We have recently been pleased to welcome Marinus Viljoen and Peter Anderson who have joined the band on cornet. Peter has a wide experience playing with brass bands, including occupying the principal cornet seats at both the Ransome Band and the Jaguar Band. We also welcome back Alicia Bennett, who returns to the band also on cornet. In addition, we are pleased to welcome Wesley Heath who joins us on the front row, and Chris Bowser on Repiano cornet.

Dec 09
A Return Visit to Music Under the Pyramid

After a very successul concert 18 months ago, the organisation 'Music under the Pyramid' asked the band to do a return concert in Christchurch, Uxbridge. Another full audience listened to the band as they performed popular brass band music in the first half, which then followed Christmas Music in the second half . , including 'Three Kings Swing'. The audience particularly enjoyed the performances by the band's principal cornet player, Brent Ellis, who played 'Georgia on my Mind', and Soprano player Kevin Edwards, playing 'Summertime' and his rendition in the middle of 'Three Kings Swing'. Another good evening for the band!

Oct 09
Concert in St Pauls' Ruislip Manor

After a very busy summer with the band with engagements and rehearsals for the National Finals, the band turned to prepare for it's next concert in Ruislip. Although the concert was not as well as attended, the band performed very well, including music such as 'Music', 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Knight Templar' and Disney Fantasy' amongst others.

Sep 26 09
YWDB Descend on Harrogate

Following our qualification in Stevenage as runners up to the second section, YWDB travelled up to Harrogate on Friday 25th in readiness for an exciting performance of 'A Scot's Miscellany' by Alan Fernie. Although the performance on stage was not as good as the final rehearsal, the band was generally pleased and came 12th in a very strong field of bands. A thoroughly good time was enjoyed by all the band, particularly in the hotel's bar after the contest!

June 09
'Rhythm and Brass'

The band put on two major concerts in June, one in the West Drayton Community Centre and the second in St John's Church, Hillingdon. Both were very well attended, particularly in West Drayton where the band was joined by St. Matthew's Primary School and the Yiewsley and West Drayton Training Band. At both events, the band put on a concert entitled 'Rhythm and Brass', and featured a number of solo items as well as full band items. The audience particularly enjoyed John Ide's Bass Solo 'The Bare Necessities' and Dave Longman's Percussion Solo 'Rusky Perkusky'.

17 May 09
Concert Preparation

The band is actively preparing for it's summer concert season, kicking off with its first concert on 5th June in the West Drayton Community Centre. The programme entitled 'Rhythm and Brass' will include Riverdance and Gaelforce and Philip Harper's special arrangement of Hawaii Five-O. Tickets will be on sale shortly. More details will be available here soon.

21 March 09
2nd Place at the Areas!

Yiewsley and West Drayton Band went to Stevenage on 21st March to compete in the most important contest of the year, the national 'Regionals' (or called the 'Areas' by many). We were all really pleased with our performance on stage and we came back to Yiewsley with a trophy for 2nd prize (out of 15) and a place at the National Finals in September. This was a great achievement for the band as this was the first time that the band had gained second place at the Regionals in the second section and first time they had received an invitation to compete at the National Finals. On top of this, the band will also be promoted to the First Section on 2010, a first for the band! A summary of the adjudicator's comments will appear on the website shortly.

The band was really pleased with the it's performance on New World Sketches. Rehearsals had gone very well and were well attended. There were at least 20 in each rehearsal. This attributed very much to the band's performance on the day. There is also a great atmosphere in the bandroom and the latter two had proved to be great tickets to success. The band now looks forward to an exciting concert season before its preparations for the National Finals in Harrogate in September.

04 Jan 09
New arrival in the bandroom

Well a new arrival but not yet a player. Our Musical Director and his wife, Lynne were proud to announce the arrival of their baby daughter on 4th January weighing just 3lb 8.5oz. Catherine Lynne Cole was early by 8 and half weeks but is doing well. The most important topic for discussion is, which instrument will she play? Catherine came to all the rehearsals leading up to the 'Areas', sleeping through all of them!

01 Jan 09
Farewell to Gordon

The band was sad to say farewell to Gordon Poole whose last performance was with the band just before Christmas. Gordon had been Principal Cornet with the band for just over 10 years. During that time, he had been an important part of the success that the band had achieved on many contest and concert stages. He will be very much missed in the bandroom but we wish him well as he relocates Crawley.