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30 Nov 2006
FAREWELL MR WALTON
The band is sad to announce the departure of David Walton. David came
to the band in 1998 at a time when we were competing in the fourth section
and has been a major part of the band's development. For most of this
time, David was the band's regular Flugal player before moving on to cornet
and then tenor horn. David's move to Essex gives him the challenge of
finding another band to play with. We all wish him well in the future
and hope that he will keep strong links with the band.
29 Nov 2006
2ND AT LEAMINGTON! November 2006
The band took to the stage at Leamington Spa on Sunday 26th November with
a performance of Kaleidoscope and came away with 2nd prize! The band were
particularly excited about this result, as the standard of playing from
all bands on the day was very high, and all the bands that took part were
experienced at achieving high results at contests. The adjudicator commented
that the band gave a very fine account of the piece as well as some good
contrasts between the sections. The band are now looking forward to the
Butlins Mineworkers' Contest at Skegness when they will have chance to
perform Kaleidoscope once again. Onwards and upwards YWDB!
01 Nov 2006
MORE NEW SIGNINGS IN TIME FOR LEAMINGTON
The band are pleased to announce three new signings in time for the Leamington
Spa Contest on 26th November 2006. This is the first time that the band
will take part in the West Midlands Annual Brass Band Contest. The band
welcomes Perry O'Brien on 2nd Cornet who previously played with Blackpool
Brass on the front row. John Wright and Liam Compson on Percussion with
Marcus Thompson sigining on Bass Trombone in the absence of the band's
regular Bass Trombone player. The band are looking forward to this contest
and giving their performance of Kaleidoscope in preparation for Butlins
Mineworkers' Contest in January. The last time the band played Kaleidoscope
was in 2004 at the 'Area' contest when the band came a credible 3rd. Let's
see what we can do this time!
19 Oct 2006
MORE NEW FACES
The band has been pleased to welcome even more new faces into the bandroom.
Ceri Williams joins the band on B Flat Bass. He has recently moved to
London and comes to us from the Parc and Dare Band. Ceri has had much
experience in the field of brass banding and has played at the very top
level, including a spell with the Hendon Band, back in the 90s.
The band have also been fortunate to welcome to other new faces as well.
More information will be posted here at a later date.
29 Sep 2006
HELLO AND GOODBYE
On Friday 29th September, the band said goodbye to our percussionist,
Peter Blake, as he begins his course at Southampton University studying
Physics. Peter has been the real lead in the Percussion Section over the
last three years and the band would like to thank him for all his hard
efforts. At his last rehearsal, the band presented Peter with a card and
a crate of beer (which is useful for a student!). We wish him all the
best with his studies and hope that he will return to visit us during
his holidays.
Whilst saying goodbye to Peter we were pleased to welcome Adele Tremenheere
on E Flat Bass. Adele was with the band many moons ago and left the band
to go and study Music and Marketing at ChristChurch College in Canterbury.
The band was very pleased to welcome back Adele into the band, especially
the MD who taught Adele at St. Matthew's back in the late 90s.
16 Sep 2006
THE SOUND OF ELGAR AT BIGGIN HILL
On Saturday 16th September, the band took part in a parade and concert
at Biggin Hill to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. As Biggin
Hill was further away than the band's usual engagements, a coach was booked
for the event. The band first became involved in this event last year
and, as a result of such a good performance, were invited back for a second
year. The band accompanied the afternoon parade, which involved a fly
past from a Spitfire.
However, the real excitement came in the evening when the band had been
requested to play a number of pieces to fit around speeches and readings.
The atmosphere was very powerful with the band producing a very powerful
rendition of Elgar's Nimrod and later, Pomp and Circumstance Number 1,
which was later used as the encore as the audience stood and applauded
the band's for its efforts. The concert had opened with High on a Hill.
Donna Tubb, the band's assistant principal cornet stood at the back of
the hall and opened with the first few bars which led into this very fine
cornet solo, played by Gordon Poole (Principal Cornet). This was the start
to a very moving evening. The band played other music which included Spitfire
Prelude, Miller Magic, Pack up Your Troubles and the RAF March Past.
At the end of the concert, the organiser told the band that he had heard
nothing but praise for their efforts. Other people in the audience commented
that the band seemed to be on real form at the moment. The concert was
recorded by the Fenner Production Team. Ray Fenner, (2nd Baritone) said
that the evening 'was truly an experience not to have been missed' and
Ian Carter (2nd Horn) had commented how wonderful it was to play such
great music in a ceremony such as this. The evening concert was held in
the chapel at Biggin Hill. The band is now preparing for its next concert:
'The Best of British' which will be performed on the 18th November in
St. John's Church, Northwood. Pictures of this event will be posted here
soon.
21 Aug 2006
BUTLINS FOR YWDB IN 2007!
Yes, once again, Yiewsley and West Drayton Band have decided to enter
the Butlins and Mineworkers Contest at Butlin's resort in Skegness, playing
one of their favourite test pieces, 'Kaleidoscope' by Phillip Sparke.
The band are really looking forward to this event and have already begun
to book their accommodation.
20 Aug 2006
WELCOME TO NEW PLAYERS
The band is very fortunate to welcome three new cornet players. Richard
Coltart, Phillip Keates and Jonathan Quinnel.
Richard has just moved into the area from Bristol, but originally came
from Yorkshire where he started to play the cornet at the age of 10. As
a Soprano player, Richard played with several youth bands and senior bands
in Yorkshire before moving to play for the Forest of Dean for 4 years;
he also had a spell of playing for the 'Flower' (now 'Polysteel') Band.
He then moved 'down South' and played for a while with the Camberley Band.
Phillip has been brought up in The Salvation Army and is playing at High
Wycombe corps. He also plays with the territorial and divisional youth
bands in the Army, along with the jazz and wind bands at school. Philip
is currently being taught by Mark Selwood from Exland Associates, and
will be taking his grade 8 in December. (Oh, and he is also a Liverpool
fan!)
Jonathan has just returned from a ten year break in his playing career
before which time he played on the front row of a third section band.
The band welcomes both Phillip and Richard, who will be playing 2nd cornet,
and Jonathan on third.
As well as new cornet players, the band is very pleased to announce the
arrival of two new Bass Trombone players, Ivan Hunger and Cory Fraser.
Ivan, who is a Swiss ski instructor, currently plays with Alder Valley
Brass as well as a local 'Big Band'. Corey joins the band after a short
break from playing in youth bands in South Australia and is now looking
forward to getting 'back into banding' after his break from playing.
More news to come shortly on other new faces appearing in the bandroom!
20 Aug 2006
RECORD ATTENDANCE DURING THE SUMMER!
Attendance at rehearsals during the summer this year have been at a record
high. Band practices over the last two months have been full with up to
13 cornet players at one rehearsal during August. This is the result of
the band's increased membership coupled with the many new faces that have
arrived over recent weeks. The band now has very few vacancies. During
August, a number of players applied for positions in the band. On one
ocassion, two people applied for just one position! The atmosphere in
the band is great and standards are really on the rise!
20 Aug 2006
YWDB ON TOP FORM AT SAVILL GARDENS
On 20th August, the band travelled a few miles down the road to perform
at Savill Gardens in Windsor. Whilst the weather was very mixed, the band
was on good form and attracted listeners and 'on-lookers' throughout the
afternoon. In the absence of Chris Cole, Lee Woodward stepped in as Musical
Director and put on a stunning show with the band playing music such as
Toccata in D Minor (Bach, arr Farr), Stage Centre, Queen of the Night's
Aria (featuring our Soprano player, Steve Burgess), Malaguena, Spanish
Eyes (featuring our Principal Cornet player, Gordon Poole) Suite from
'Carmen' and the overture 'Zampa'.
30 Jun 2006
THANK YOU, SHIRLEY!
Recently, the band was informed that long-serving member, Shirley Drake
was unable to remain as member of the band as work commitments prevented
her from attending rehearsals. Shirley was a member of the band for many
years. She really grew up in the band as served over 20 years as a stalwart
member. Shirley is featured on several occasions in the book about the
band, written by Ken Dickson, entitled A Band for Two Villages . The
band were pleased to make a presentation to both Shirley and her Dad,
Roy, who had also been a member of the band for about 20 years. We hope
that we can welcome both of them back from time to time.
29 May 2006
GOODBYE TO MICK!
The band recently said goodbye to Mick Mayo. Mick Mayo has been with the
band since 1997. He originally joined on Euphonium and then moved onto
E Flat Bass, a seat that he has held since then. Mick joined at a time
when the band was beginning to move forward and new players were arriving.
He has seen many changes but especially, the promotion from bottom of
the fourth section to the second section over the last five years. After
a brief presentation to Mick, he recalled that his last contest with the
band will be his most memorable and that the clean sweep at Hove is one
that he will always been proud to have taken part in. Best of luck to
Mick. We are now in search of an E Flat Bass Player.
30 Apr 2006
A FLUGAL MOVE?
Our regular Flugal player, David Walton, recently announced to the band
that he and his family plan to move in the very near future. He therefore
has decided to relinquish his Flugal seat and join the cornet section.
The hunt begins for a new Flugal player. David will continue to play with
the band until he moves away.
30 Apr 2006
CLEAN SWEEP AT HOVE
The band took part in the Annual Spring Contest at Hove this year and
came away with a clear win. The adjudicator made it very clear that there
was only one winner in this section.
For the first time ever, the band received first prize for the March,
which was a set March for the contest entitled Banner of St George. Having
been over-awed by our first prize with the March, we then waited to hear
our band s name mentioned a further four times! Collecting the first
prize at this contest for the main test piece hadn t been the first time.
The band had collected first prize at the same contest last year and previously
in 2002.
Our Principal Cornet then went onto to collect the soloists prize, the
Trombones collected the Trombone sectional prize (which was also won by
our band last year as well!) and finally Chris Cole collected the Conductors
Prize for best interpretation.
Having produce a very convicincing performance of Gregson's Laudate
Dominum the band was very pleased to receive first prize from such a
prestigious adjudicator as Alan Morrison. Onward and upward YWDB!
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