Wantage Silver Band

Sunday, 9th November saw the regular annual Remembrance Parades, with bands leading the Royal British Legion contingents with Scouts and similar groups to church services in Wantage and Hanney. Bandsmen also played 'Last Post' at several local village war memorials on that day and on Wantage square on the 11th.

While Wantage Concert Brass was formed deliberately as a "non-contesting" group within the WSB organisation, they decided to support the Oxford and District BB Association's revival of the former annual Entertainment Contest and entered in the "Unregistered" section of this year's contest at Burford School on Sunday 11th October.

The 28 players of the 'B' Band and their conductor Danny Dullforce had a fine result at the National Brass Band 4th Section Championships held on September 26th in Harrogate. Having been placed 2nd at the London and Southern Counties area contest earlier in the year to qualify, they faced up to the 1st and 2nd bands of all other areas of the country, and came 4th out of the 19 competing bands.

The annual Aldbourne Carnival was held on September 5th, and Wantage Band was invited again to participate. Always a tricky time at the end of the holiday period and with Youth Band busy that day, we were nevertheless able to field a decent band, playing mostly light-hearted march tunes. The members appeared to enjoy themselves!

The Wantage Band made its first appearance at a Royal Park Bandstand on Sunday 12th July, playing at the Greenwich Park. A full coach of players and supporters enjoyed good weather and found the park very interesting to visit - although players had to be content with a quick trip around the Observatory and refreshments, before setting up in the Bandstand, where we played from 2 - 5 p.m.

Having performed successfully in the Oxfordshire area 'Music for Youth Festival' back in March, the Wantage Advanced Youth Ensemble took part in the next round in Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Thursday 9th July. With Phil Bailey conducting, they put up a grand show, much appreciated by the audience and the large contingent of our supporters!

Saturday 27th June was nationally-designated Armed Forces Day, and the Wantage Band had the honour of leading the Wantage parade. The parade formed up outside the Parish Church for the National Anthem, the Oration and The Last Post and Reveille (played by Steve Chapman).

Former WSB trombonist and percussionist Rachel Kowalski was married to Mark Tugwell at Ardington Church on Saturday 20th June. 'A' Band played the hymns and incidental music in the church and were led by the happy couple on the march to Ardington House for the reception. Take a look at a video of the march on YouTube.

An innovation this year has been a series of Pub Lunch Concerts by the Youth Band, which have been popular and successful. Here, the band (with a few helpers!) entertain in the garden of the 'King Alfred Head' in Wantage.

Kenneth James Robey passed away on Monday 11th May 2009 at the age of 88. The Band has lost a long-time member and supporter and was very proud to provide the music at his funeral service, held at West Hendred Church on Saturday 18th May. Ken was born into a banding family, and learnt to play baritone in the Ardington & Lockinge Band.

Wantage Silver Band came to public notice again through recent parades. Concert Brass led the United Churches' Palm Sunday parade through Wantage on April 5th, while 'A' and 'B' Bands led St.George's Day parades through Wantage and Wallingford respectively on April 26th. The picture shows 'B' Band in Wallingford town centre as the rest of the parade filed into St. Mary's Church.

Everyone in the band will have their memories of Denise Clark, either as fellow 'A' Band player, as leader of our Junior Brass group or as music teacher in schools and on a personal basis. She contributed so much to WSB in various ways and we were all disappointed when husband Andy moved to the USA with his business and took her and their family with him.

Not quite a contest perhaps, more of a showcase of local musical talent, with the opportunity for advancement to a further, broader-based event. A WSB 'Advanced Youth Ensemble' entered this contest on 28th March at Bayards Hill School in Oxford, conducted by Phil Bailey. The ensemble consisted mainly of Youth Band players but also included young players from the A, B and Concert Brass bands.

As a boost to our new Band Hall building fund, our founder Doug Brand is training hard to take part in the 2009 London Marathon in April, and is seeking sponsorship on our behalf, together with a diabetes charity, being a long-term diabetic himself.

The Wantage Band presented a Concert 'Magic of the Movies - and More' on Saturday 7th February, in Didcot Civic Hall, the proceeds of which are to be given to Multiple Sclerosis Societies.