The 1st Old Boys Band organisation has just enjoyed one of the most memorable months in their long and proud banding history.

Resounding success

Not only did both their senior and youth bands claim first prizes in the Championship and Youth Sections at the recent Brass Band League Spring Festival in Strabane, but they used the victories to go on and represent their nation with resounding success at the European Championships in Perth.

After raising the money and organising the logistics themselves to make the trip to Scotland, over 60 players plus supporters thoroughly enjoyed the amazing experience of taking to the same stage as the likes of Cory, Black Dyke and new champion, Burgermusik Luzern.

Growing emergence

The senior band certainly showed their growing emergence as a top flight outfit under Stephen Cairns, by pushing eventual champions Brass Band Wipptal from Italy all the way to the finishing line in the Challenge Section, whilst the amazing players of the Youth Band (above)conducted by Jacklin Bingham wowed the Perth Concert Hall audience with their excellent playing and sheer joyful enthusiasm.

Extremely proud

Spokesperson Mark Bingham told 4BR: "We are exhausted but extremely proud.

We have benefited from great help in the past few months from the likes of Michael Fowles and others, but it was the players who really did the organisation proud especially in Scotland."

I don’t think anyone will ever forget the sight and sound of our youth players taking to the stage in Perth — they simply loved the experienceMark Bingham

Loved the experience

He added: "I don’t think anyone will ever forget the sight and sound of our youth players taking to the stage in Perth — they simply loved the experience. Everyone played their part — from young Connor Chamber's xylophone solo on ‘Black & White Rag’ to everyone setting off party poppers in ‘African Funk’ to close.

It has been an experience they won’t forget, they have been truly bitten by the brass band bug!"