*
banner

British Open trivia taster

Just a few odd facts about things associated (very loosely at times) with this year's 158th British Open.

Symphony Hall
 

If you are so excited you need an extra little bit of 2010 British Open trivia to bore the pants off your work colleagues before you set off to Brum for the weekend, what about these…

1. Frank Renton makes it a ‘Triple Crown’ of Scottish contenders at the British Open this year by conducting Whitburn.

He previously conducted Kirkintilloch in 2002, and 2003 and Scottish Co-op as they were then in 2005 (which happened to be the last time he conducted at the contest before this year).

2. Garry Cutt is the only man to have won the British Open at three different venues.

His first success came with Kennedy Swinton in 1989 at the Free Trade Hall, followed by Marple in 1996 at Bridgewater Hall and Foden’s in 2004 and again in 2008 at Symphony Hall.

3. There are two bands with Temperance in their names at the contest this year – Rothwell and Tongwynlais. This is the first time we think since 1999, when Wingates and Rothwell competed at the contest.

4. Do you know that Tommy Dorsey (who the composer pays homage to in the second movement of the test piece), Mama Cass from the pop group ‘The Mamas and the Papas’ and playwright Tennessee Williams, all left this good earth via a misplaced bit of food in the old oesophagus…

The one who got away was the Queen Mum who was admitted to hospital after she almost croaked on a fish bone in 1993.

He (Hooke) was a bit of a hypochondriac, a great imbiber of all things pharmaceutical, and someone who shall we say, rather enjoyed practicing relief from his troubles by himself...4BR

5. The man who inspired the title of the work, Robert Hooke, is also a character well worth seeking out more information on (try Lisa Jardine’s wonderful book, 'The Curious Life of Robert Hooke – The Man who Measured London'.

A brilliant maverick, Hooke was an engineer, surveyor, architect and inventor and who was instrumental in planning the lay out of London after the Great Fire in 1666.

He was a bit of a hypochondriac, a great imbiber of all things pharmaceutical, and someone who shall we say, rather enjoyed practicing relief from his troubles by himself…

Hooke has a law of elasticity named after him (‘The power of any spring is in the same proportion with the tension thereof’) although the great quote that inspires this test piece is not really an original aphorism (that goes back further than Sir Isaac Newton’s letter to Hooke of 1676)

More famously, Newton acerbically stated after their great falling out over gravitational theory that, '…And why should I record a man for the invention who founds his claim upon an error therein & on that score give me trouble?'

He also described Hooke as, 'a man of strange unsociable temper'.

Sounds as if he would have been a great soprano cornet player then...

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Wychavon Festival of Brass

Wychavon releases draw details

September 11 • The draws have been made for the popular Wychavon Festival of Brass in November.


aobba

Cheltenham experience added to new AoBBA intake

September 11 • Four musicians will enjoy an insight into the adjudication process at the National Finals in Cheltenham this weekend.


Rockingham

Decade of joint music making to come to end at Rockingham

September 11 • Adam Whittle will step down from his role as Musical Director of Rockingham Band at the end of this year.


NYBBGB C

National Children's Band Summer Course concert to be broadcast

September 10 • You can sit back and enjoy the talents of the National Children's Band of Great Britain as their end of course concert from their recent Summer Course in to be broadcast on YouTube this Friday.


Contest: Lower Sections 1-4 National Finals

Saturday 13 September • Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, Cheltenham GL50 4SH


Contest: Lower Sections 1-4 National Finals

Sunday 14 September • Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, Cheltenham. . *Please note as of 24th August 2023 the date is provisional according to Kapitol Promotions website GL50 4SH


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Petworth Heritage weekend

Saturday 20 September • Centre of Petworth Town GU28 OAH


Cheltenham Silver Band - Holst Birthday Concert

Saturday 20 September • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Pittville, Cheltenham GL52 2HG


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards Big Band

Friday 26 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Chinnor Silver

September 11 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are meeting again on Monday (15th) and we would welcome any players who fancy joining us for a relaxed and friendly blow.. All abilities are welcome and meeting with us has no impact on your main band.. Cake and coffee included FREE


Epping Forest Band

September 11 • We have a solo horn vacancy to join our friendly 3rd section band. We have a sensible calendar of contests and concerts.. Situated with close links to the M11/M25 and Central line tube station, with our own band room.. Rehearsals Monday night 8-10pm.


Delph Band

September 9 • We are a friendly, hardworking North West 2nd Section band based in Saddleworth. Rehearsal nights are Mondays and Wednesdays, 8-10pm at Delph Band Club. We are currently looking to fill the following positions; Tutti Cornet, Percussion and Eb Bass.


Rob Nesbitt

BSc, PG Cert. Ed.
Cartoonist , illustrator, writer


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd