Wantage Silver Band

The photo shows Eileen Sykes receiving a cheque for £250 kindly donated by the Letcombe Singers

Wantage Silver 'A' Band, conducted by Phil Bailey, won the top section at the SCABA (Southern Counties Amateur Brass Association) contest held at Leas Cliff Hill in Folkestone on Sunday 16th October.

The Annual Concert on Saturday 2nd October once again entertained a full hall at the Civic Centre, Wantage.

Wantage Silver Band attended the annual Battle of Britain Parade in Wantage and led the march from the Civic Hall  to the Parish Church. On the return journey the salute was taken on the Market Square. Canon John Salter took the service and used a slightly different format from previous years, with one of Winston Churchill's famous speeches being played during the service.

Wantage 'B' band, conducted by Danny Dullforce, entertained a large audience in the stunning setting of Ardington House, by kind permission of the Baring family. Playing on the lawns by the lake, the band entertained onlookers and ducks alike with a nice selection of music, including solos by principal cornet Jordan Mason and Flugel player Jayne Isham.

The Wantage Band, conducted by Phil Bailey, presented another of its popular 'Last Night of The Proms' concerts in the Wantage Civic Hall on Saturday 24th July. Guests were the Reading Scottish Pipe Band led by Pipe Major Ron Patterson, who in addition to performing their own sets of pipe music, joined with the Band in 'Jenny's Bawbee' and in the magical 'Highland Cathedral'.

A coach full of Wantage players and supporters journeyed to Greenwich Royal Park on Sunday 4th July, where the "A" Band played in the magnificent bandstand, conducted by Phil Bailey. This was our second visit, and the weather was perfect. As it was American Independence Day the band began their two and a half hour programme with 'The Stars and Stripes'. The coincidence of a huge Cancer Charity run on Blackheath just outside the Park made parking the coach an unexpected adventure due to the huge crowds, but ensured an especially large and appreciative audience.

A mixed band once again travelled to Yorkshire for the annual Whit Friday marches at the villages around Saddleworth. The first picture shows them leading the Greenfield Methodist Church contingent on the early morning parade.

The annual Palm Sunday 'Churches Together' parade took place in fine weather, from Charlton Church, through Wantage to the Parish Church. Concert Brass led the hymn singing along the way and halted just off the square while the choir and substantial congregation sang the final hymn as they moved on into the Church. Hopefully, the accompanying donkey enjoyed her exercise!

The London and Southern Counties area contests were held in Stevenage over the weekend of 20/21 March. On the Saturday the 'B' band, conducted by Danny Dullforce, on its first appearance in the 3rd Section came a creditable 7th out of 14 entries, and on Sunday the 'A' band, conducted by Phil Bailey, came 3rd in the Championship Section, just missing out on their ultimate dream of playing in the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall. Perhaps next year! However, as a result, the on-line magazine "4BarsRest" now rates the band in its world top 200 list at number 147. The picture shows Bandmaster Eileen Sykes and Conductor Phil Bailey with the trophy.

The Wantage Silver Band, conducted by Phil Bailey, gave its third annual concert in aid of Multiple Sclerosis Charities in the Didcot Civic Hall on Saturday 6th February. A packed hall enjoyed a great concert, which featured guest artist Chris Passey, star of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' who, in addition to singing songs from the show, performed one of his own compositions.