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Lower Section National Finals 2002:
Third Section Test Piece - "Cherchebi" - Goff Richards
Riviera Centre, Torquay
Saturday September 20th
We've tried our best
once more to get as much information as we can on the bands that have qualified
for the Finals. Lots of the details we have managed to get off the bands own websites,
but sometimes these are out of date - so apologies.
(Where possible information on bands has been supplemented with facts from band
web sites.) Arbroath Instrumental Musical
Director: Michael Robertson
Background:
Arbroath Instrumental put on a fine solid show in the Scottish Regionals securing
the second qualification spot to gain the ticket for the long journey south to
Torquay. Last year they battled it out in the Fourth Section and took home with
them a lowly 16th place, so hopes will be high to try and make sure this year
will be better. To come second this year then and qualify once again was a very
fine achievement. ArrowValley Brass Musical
Director: Andy Culshaw
Principal Cornet Davis Hodgetts
Solo Horn Kerry Keen
Solo Euphonium Ray Farr
Solo Trombone David Deakin
Soprano Cornet Christopher Dowdeswell History:
Arrow Valley Brass started its life in 1977 as Alcester Victoria Youth Band with
a small group of children in Alcester town hall. David Stanley settled in the
South Midlands in the early seventies and soon became involved in the local band
scene and started Arrow Valley Brass some 23 years ago although it was known then
as the Alcester Victoria Youth Band. In addition to his local involvements David
Stanley is just stepping down as Chairman of the BFBB. As the band's popularity
grew and more people joined, the age and ability gap grew, so it was decided to
create two groups, the "Main" band and the "B" band. The latter
continues to attempt to develop and improve young (and not so young) players.
In 1990 the name was changed to Arrow Valley Brass to avoid confusion with another
local band. Background:
David Stanley who was the originator of the band has given unbroken service as
musical director. In the contest field, the band originally started in the 4th
Section and at present is placed in the 3rd section. During this period in the
3rd section it qualified in the area contests in 1989 and 1990 to compete in the
National Finals in Central Hall Westminster. 3rd place at the Regionals saw them
take the final qualification place on offer. Andy Culshaw is an experienced man
with the baton, and someone who has tasted success at the highest level. This
could well prove valuable.
Blaenavon Town Musical Director: Bryn Davies Principal
Cornet Rhian Linney
Solo Horn Sharon Nicholas
Solo Euphonium Evan Smith
Solo Trombone Mike O'Leary
Soprano Cornet Patrick O'Leary History:
Blaenavon Town Band is one of the oldest cultural organisations within Blaenavon
and its origins are in the latter part of the last century when the Band was known
as the Blaenavon Town Silver Band. The Band evolved through this century, being
supported by the local colliery when the Band became known as the Blaenavon Colliery
Workmens Band until the colliery closed in the late 1970's. The Band does not
now receive any commercial sponsorship and has taken the name 'Blaenavon Town
Band'. Background:
In early 1996 the membership of the Band dropped to nine playing members and support
from a couple of officers. A meeting was held to determine whether there was a
future for the Band and a proposal to dissolve was narrowly defeated. The few
remaining members started rebuilding from the very lowest point. In mid 1996,
following a successful recruiting campaign the Band was nearly full strength and
only a few seats remained to be filled. Their progress over the last two years
has been mainly down to enthusiasm and to the Bandmaster, Bryn Davies, who has
skilfully developed the musical ability of the Band through his determination
and ability. The win in Wales was the first time since 1975 that the band had
succeeded at the Regionals, so hopes are high for a Welsh success at Torquay.
Briton Ferry Silver Musical Director:
Mike Ford
Background:
Briton Ferry have continued to improve over the last year or so and come to the
contest after a very successful twelve months. Recent results have seen them promoted
from the lower section, came 4th at the National Finals, won the Ebbw Vale contest
and were 2nd at both Burry Port and Treorchy. They will be hoping their consistent
playing continues to Torquay into 2002 Finals. Briton Ferry ran Blaenavon
close at the Regionals and took the second qualification spot with a little bit
of comfort. Mike Ford has worked the band hard and will be looking for success
come Saturday. Carlton Brass Musical
Director: Tony Wilson
Principal Cornet Alan Tyler
Solo Horn John Bailey
Solo Euphonium Paul Watson
Solo Trombone Alan Carlin
Soprano Cornet Steve Parker History:
Founded in 1902 as the Netherfields Railwayman's Band, they became the Carlton
Silver Band in 1950 and finally Carlton Brass in 1998. When following a sponsorship
deal with Nottingham City Transport, the learners section which was titled, The
New Carlton Silver Band and decided to begin contesting it changed its name to
Carlton Brass to avoid confusion Background:
The deliberate conducting style from Tony Wilson has brought out some very good
results for Carlton Brass. They have turned out some good performances and have
earned their second consecutive trip to the National Finals. Last year they performed
well in the Fourth Section and came 6th, but things have improved rapidly since
then and they could be one of the favourites here after securing their trip after
coming second at the Midlands Regionals. They also came 2nd at the North East
Midland Contest earlier this year. Castleton Brass Musical
Director: David Aves
Principal Cornet Philip Gurney
Solo Horn Isabel Aves
Solo Euphonium Jeff Martin
Solo Trombone Paul Austin
Soprano Cornet Philip Moore History:
Castleton Brass is based at Eye in Suffolk and was formed in 1935 as The Drayton
Band. It went through a transitional period before gaining sponsorship from Norwich
Brewery. They underwent name change to Norwich Brewery Brass in the 1980's and
moved its base to Norwich, rehearsing at the Brewery. On losing its sponsorship
with the imminent closure of the brewery, the band once more reverted to the Drayton
Band. Fortunes were changing, with membership was becoming sparse and once again
the band moved base. The situation didn't improve so in 2001 the band took the
bold step to move base again so that it could attract personnel from both Ipswich
and Norwich areas. The new name is taken from Castleton Road, where the band rehearses
at the Hartismere High School. Background:
Castleton won the London and Southern Counties Regional with an impressive win
and come to the contest under their motivating conductor David Aves. That win
was against a 12 band field that saw them take the title with some style. The
band also won the East Anglia Spring Festival Contest in Class A.
Ellington Colliery
Musical Director: Denis Wright Background:
Unfortunately the Ellington Colliery website is down and therefore information
on the background of the band is sparse. The year proved successful and come to
this contest with a win in the Fourth Section of the County Durham contest, 2nd
place at the Mineworkers and runners up spot in the North of England regionals.
That second place was reward for a lot of hard work from the band and just reward
from an early number two draw.
Hebden Bridge (Walkleys)
Musical Director: Ian Craddock
Principal Cornet Steve Gardner
Solo Horn Tracy Plant
Solo Euphonium Ian Plant
Solo Trombone Peter Drinkel History:
It is not absolutely clear when Hebden Bridge Brass Band was founded but in 1978
they held their centenary celebration, It has therefore been in existence for
at least 122 years. In the early days the members were made up from the workforce
of the local mills who sponsored them and they, the mill owners, in return got
relatively cheap advertising for the mill and products, particularly if the bands
performed well and won prizes. Hebden Bridge Band did very well in this respect
and in 1911 saw its biggest contest victory becoming the 59th British Open Champions.
The name Harry Mortimer is synonymous with the Hebden Bridge Brass Band. He joined
Hebden as a lad on 3rd Cornet when his father Fred Mortimer was the Bandmaster Background:
Yorkshire Champions for 2002, the band has had a chequered history and since 1968
a wide range of players and conductors. However, over the past few years many
dedicated players have joined and with the appointment of Mr Ian Craddock, who
for fifteen years was the principal euphonium with the Yorkshire Imperial Metals
Band, as musical director the band has gone from strength to strength. The Regional
win followed two years in which they had come 8th in 2000 and 10th in 2001. The
band were runners up in the Fourth Section in Yorkshire in 1997 and came third
in the Third Section in 1999. The band came 7th at the Wilkinson Northern Open
earlier this year. Helston Town Musical
Director: Edward Ashton
Background:
In 1998 Helston Town was competing in the First Section and have had some success
in National contests. Third at the Regionals they were runners up last year and
followed that coming 5th at the National Finals. Some good results and possibly
another one this time around could see the start of a return back to the top.
Houghton Brass
Musical Director: Tom Gibson
Background:
Again information is in short supply. They come from the North of England where
they took the title and have been a band growing in stature. They should take
on the Nationals at Torquay with some relish. The Regional win came off the number
one draw - an impressive win if ever there was one then and the two point winning
margin was very well deserved. Michelmersh Silver Musical
Director: Brian Kelloway
Principal Cornet Jan Boler
Solo Horn Carrie Dobson
Solo Euphonium Kelvin Richards
Solo Trombone Mike Ricketts
Soprano Cornet Nigel Miller History:
There is no record of the day the Michelmersh band first played together, but
its first anniversary is reported in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal for
Saturday, November 19, 1887 Background:
Winners of the West of England Contest and are located just north of Romsey. They
compete in Torquay on the back of two 1st prizes having also won the Wessex contest
on Les Preludes. Brian Kelloway has taken the band to the 1st Section locally
with these results so should be a strong outfit in this 3rd section contest. The
Regional win was by a clear two-point margin with a performance that was described
"a terrific reading". Middleton Musical
Director: Shane Foster
Principal Cornet Alexis Molyneux
Solo Horn Fred Houghton
Solo Euphonium Steve Jenkins
Solo Trombone Kevin Bradshaw
Soprano Cornet Louise Crane History:
The Middleton Brass Band was formed in 1876. The first outings by the band were
to local pubs in which they played in exchange for ale or lemonade which earned
the band the nickname 'The Pop and Ale Boys'. In 1884 the band became the Middleton
Public Band then in March of 1887 the band finally became The Middleton Borough
Brass Band. Over the years the band has done very well in contests and in 1983
the band won the National Brass Band Championships in the 3rd section. Through
non contesting the band became a 4th section band in 1988. At present the band
is doing very well having just recently been promoted to the 3rd section after
topping the 4th section championship table. Background:
The band go to Torquay on the back of 3 first prizes and two 3rd prizes in contest
across the 3rd and 4th section over the last couple of years. There improvement
has been gradual and sustained demonstrated when they came 1st in their section
at Scouthead in this year's Whit Walks. A race night was just part of their fund
raising activity to get to Torquay this time. 3rd place at the Regionals saw them
take the final qualification spot on offer for Torquay. The band also won the
fourth section top prize at Manchester late last year. Oughtibridge Musical
Director: David Moore
Principal Cornet Barry Batty
Solo Horn Mark Taylor
Solo Euphonium Ged Hancock
Solo Trombone Roy Gillespie
Soprano Cornet Max Townsend History:
The Village of Oughtibridge has supported some sort of music making group for
well over one hundred years. Believed to have been started as a drum and fife
band when six benefactors joined together and raised the money for instruments,
music and other equipment. Formed as a Brass Band in 1890, it engaged in local
and national brass band contests in its section. In the 1960-79 period the Band
won 23 trophies in various contests. In more recent times the Band have appeared
in London in the National Championships on three occasions between 1980 and 1990.
The Band has moved between the fourth and second sections over the last ten years.
In the recent 2000 Yorkshire Area Contest, the Band finished second, qualifying
for the finals in London and also securing promotion to the third section. Background:
The band is based just to the north west of Sheffield and they had an unsettled
run up to the qualifying contest with several key personnel changes but pulled
out all the stops to finish in 2nd place in the Yorkshire 3rd section regional
contest. The two years prior to this they had come 7th in 2001 and were given
an average placing in 2000. Raunds Temperance Musical
Director: John Fletcher
Background:
Raunds Temperance conducted by John Fletcher won the Midlands contest from a late
draw of 18 out of 19. They put on a belting performance, neatly articulated, plenty
of spirit and no lack of musicianship and if they repeat this standard they will
certainly be a band to watch at Torquay. A band that travels well - they regularly
take part in contests in Wales and last year they came 3rd at the National Finals
with a cracking performance of the test piece "An English Suite" by
Michael Ball. Royal British Legion Crownhill (Plymouth) Musical
Director: Denzil Stephens
Principal Cornet Rachel Macrae
Solo Horn Ray Hardie
Solo Euphonium Helen Morgan
Solo Trombone Nick Nye
Soprano Cornet Alli Northcott History:
The band was formed in 1928 as the Plymouth City Mission Band. A break with their
Salvationist roots and a change of name to Plymouth Silver Band saw them progress
in the contest scene. In 1982 were offered a permanent home with the Royal British
Legion. The band have had mixed fortunes contesting moving through the sections
but they feel that this is perhaps there strongest line up for a number of years. Background:
Second in the West of England regionals has secured 2nd section status for 2003.
The band has rehearsed for the last couple of months under the direction of the
experienced conductor Denzil Stephens. They took three prizes at the Bugle Contest
so go to Torquay on a high. Denzil Stephens took them to Torquay and he will conduct
the band there as well. Shotts St.Patrick's Brass Musical
Director: Simon Kerwin
Background
Shott's St. Patrick's Brass won their Regional Contest off a number 1 draw and
have had some good results including winning the best 3rd section band prize at
Whitburn and coming 4th at the Carnegie contest. They have a solid record since
their demotion to the third section in 1998. Simon Kerwin is a very talented chap
indeed and has played at the very highest level and should bring something to
the band in their attempt to take home the top prize back to Scotland. Silk
Brass Astra Zeneca (Macclesfield) Musical Director: Ken Mackintosh
Principal Cornet Nicky Longden
Solo Horn Shirley Snelson
Solo Euphonium Bob Goodwin
Solo Trombone Andrew Snelson
Soprano Cornet Ken Norbury History:
Silk Brass was established in 1997 and held its inaugural concert at the Heritage
Centre in Macclesfield, Cheshire on the 10th of October 1997. Background:
Silk Brass Astra Zeneca just missed out of a place at the National Finals last
year when they came 3rd but improved enough to gain a trip to Torquay this time.
They have shown enough in 2002 to announce that they are contenders and they could
do well. Their second place at the Regionals was a fine performance and given
that they are such a young band, to gain a place to the Finals is something of
an achievement. They also won the North East Midlands Contest and were the highest
placed Peak Band at the recent Buxton contest.
Wire Brass
Musical Director: Paul Andrews
Principal Cornet Nikki Rowe
Solo Horn Chris Gleave
Solo Euphonium Kim Thorpe
Solo Trombone Jill Riley
Soprano Cornet Sarah Sanders History:
Wire Brass was formed in September 2001 out of conversations between musicians
in the Warrington area. A number of the band began their playing in the local
youth bands but were forced to join bands out of the district to realise their
full potential. The band has been very encouraged with almost every position filled
proving that a top calibre brass band in Warrington had long been needed.
They played their first concert to a crowd of almost 300 people, at the Sacred
Heart Church in Warrington on the 2nd of December 2001. Background:
MD Paul Andrews put down his Baton and picked up his Euphonium to help Leyland
out at the British Open last week and he has taken the band from the outset. Graded
for contests in the second section locally and the third section nationally their
first contest was on the 10th of February 2002 at 'Brass at the Guild' Preston,
where we were placed 1st playing 'Spectrum'. Their next contest was the North
West Regional Championships held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool which they
also won meaning they are to be promoted to second section nationally as from
next year. They have some talented players, including Chris Gleave on horn, who
is a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Strong contenders
you would have to think.
Yiewsley & West Drayton
Musical Director: Christopher Cole
Principal Cornet Gordon Poole
Solo Horn Paul Barker
Solo Euphonium Calyton Maclean
Solo Trombone John Ide
Soprano Cornet Steve Burgess History:
The band was founded in 1890 and was first known as the Weslyan Band of Hope.
Over the years has changed its name at least five times before assuming its present
title in 1971. Background:
Yiewsley and West Drayton made their debut in the London and Southern Counties
Regionals following promotion on the back of three years when they came 5th, 15th
and 7th in the fourth section. They also came 2nd at the Folkestone contest and
won at Hove in the build up to the Regional contest. Runners up spot in March
saw them through to the finals in Torquay. The band also won the Hove Contest
earlier this year. So who do we think will take the honours this
year at the contest? We've had a good look at the form book and to tell you the
truth, we don't really have much of an idea! All the bands seem more than capable
of giving a real top quality performance of the test piece, so we think it could
be a very close run thing. But what the heck eh? Here goes……. 1.
Wire Brass
2. Raunds Temperance
3. Middleton
4. Hebden Bridge (Walkleys)
5. Blaenavon Town
6. Shott's St. Patrick's Brass Dark Horse: Carlton Brass
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