September 2003

Weston Hills Church - 5th October
Autumn Concert - 18th October
Combined Bands - 24th October

Weston Hills Church

With our principal cornet still in hospital, the Musical Director was apprehensive about this formal concert.  The concert was set in the tiny church in Weston Hills near Spalding.  The band had difficulty setting up in the cramped surroundings.  We made use of bench pews and managed to find chairs for our bass section.  The percussionist did not have room for a full kit.

For the first time we featured one of our new players, 15 year old Natalie, to sing along with the band playing 'And All That Jazz'.  Natalie is a very talented vocalist (as well as a promising trombone player - she joined the band's learner class last year).  We were unable to do a sound check before the concert and Natalie was overpowered by the band on occasions, but for her first appearance with us, it was a great start.

The front row cornets were flagging again towards the end, but the band put in a good performance which was appreciated by the small audience.

We were delighted to see the band's founding conductor, Brian Long, in the audience.  It was particularly sad to hear that he passed away only a few days later.

Autumn Concert 

We had a full band for this concert and it was a great success.  Our principal cornet was back after her stay in hospital and the band excelled.  Our 15 year old singer Natalie was a delight - the Church acoustics aided by the built-in sound system made her powerful voice soar over the band.

The audience was smaller than we had hoped but those who came thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

The Band added 'The Old Rugged Cross' to its programme in honour of former conductor Brian Long who died suddenly the previous week.

The concert was successful, but the organisation less so.  Who forgot to organise the half-time refreshments?  

At the end the audience did not want to leave so they were given an encore (whether they liked it or not!).

Programme:

 Combined Bands

The Lincolnshire Brass Band Association (LBBA) arranged this proposed concert, which has now been postponed.

It was proposed that the concert should feature the four South Lincolnshire Bands - Holbeach, Spalding, Kirton and Swineshead - and would commemorate the Dam Busters raid and the history of flight.  The bands were not invited to take part in any discussion about the concert;  the programme was to be devised by the LBBA and the LBBA would provide a conductor and a compere;  all proceeds were to be taken by the LBBA.  Most of the bands were unhappy about these arrangements, and, four weeks before the concert, they had not been told what the programme would be.  The concert has now been postponed and the LBBA have announced to the press that it will now take place next Spring - watch this website for further information!