*
banner

Report & Results: 2014 West Lothian Festival of Brass

Co-operative Funeralcare complete their stranglehold on domestic Scottish silverware with latest victory at West Lothian.

Coop
 

Co-operative Funeralcare completed their stranglehold of all the major domestic Scottish titles with an impressive victory at the West Lothian Festival of Brass entertainment contest in Livingston.

Directed by Allan Ramsay, they completed the Scottish Open, Scottish Championship, Land O’ Burns and West Lothian ‘Grand Slam’ thanks to a commanding performance at the Howden Park Centre that saw them beat off the challenge of reigning champion Whitburn, with Kingdom Brass in third.

Slickly presented

With the contest utilizing the ‘Brass in Concert’ points allocation method, Co-op’s slickly presented set gained maximum points for both music and entertainment, with third place for programme content.

Cool heads

MD Allan Ramsay was delighted that the clear four point margin of victory now gave the band the rare opportunity to display the silverware from the quartet of major Scottish contests at forthcoming high profile events.

"This was the latest victory based on hard work and commitment," he told 4BR. "I feel the band is really developing into a high class outfit, with cool heads giving us a confident stage presence.

We have a settled line up of players and a real desire to keep building on the impressive results of the last couple of years, especially at the major championships."

Allan added: "With some high profile concerts to enjoy over the next couple of months before the British Open it will be good to show off the rewards for all that hard work."

Latin beat

Co-op opened their programme with the choreographed ‘Semper Fidelis’ march before segueing into the Latin beat of ‘Los Hermanos de Bop’.

A stunning new Adrian Drover arrangement of ‘You Needed Me’ featuring trombone soloist Paul Kiernan gained the ‘Best New Composition/Arrangement’ prize, whilst the ‘Best Section’ cornet feature of Allan’s own arrangement of ‘There’s Great Day Coming’ contrasted with Howard Snell’s lovely treatment of the negro spiritual ‘Steal Away’, enhanced by subtle choreography and multi-media imagery.

The band rounded off its programme with a powerful rendition of ‘Turris Fortissima’ by Stephen Ponsford.

Adjudicators Alan Fernie, Archie Hutchison and Alan Fernie were left in little doubt over the ultimate destination of title, which returned to Co-operative Funeralcare for the third time in four years and the sixth time in total. It was also Allan Ramsay’s fifth win at the event since it started in 2002.

Not all cylinders

There was to be no debut victory for the new combination of Lee Skipsey and Whitburn, as the defending champion couldn’t quite fire on all cylinders, despite taking the award for the best performance of a compulsory Howard Snell work, with the sparkling arrangement of the overture to ‘Candide’ to open their set.

However, they couldn’t quite maintain the quality of that impressive opening statement of intent, despite some fine playing on show with the following, ‘Caoineadh Cù Chulainn’ flugel and soprano duet, ‘Cats Tales’, ‘Sleep’ and ‘Horizons’ by Paul Lovatt-Cooper to close.

Return to form

Meanwhile, there was a welcome return to form for third placed Kingdom Brass, under the baton of Eoin Tonner, with Chris Mansfield taking the ‘Best Soloist’ award for his excellent rendition of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s ‘As If We Never Said Goodbye’.

Their eclectic set also included a new arrangement by the MD of ‘Happy’, ‘The Witch of the Westmerlands’, ‘Concertino Catalonia’, ‘The Sorcerer's Apprentice’ and ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’.

I feel the band is really developing into a high class outfit, with cool heads giving us a confident stage presenceMD, Allan Ramsay

Results:

Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt (music), Archie Hutchison (Entertainment), Alan Fernie (Programme content)

Music/Entertainment/Programme Content = Total

1. Co-operative Funeralcare (Allan Ramsay): 100/60/36 = 196
2. Whitburn (Lee Skipsey): 95/57/40 = 192
3. Kingdom Brass (Eoin Tonner): 90/54/34 = 178
4. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Charles Keenan): 85/51/38 = 174
5. Clackmannan District Brass (Paul McKelvie): 80/48/32 = 160

Withdrew: Kirkintilloch

Most Entertaining Performance: Co-operative Funeralcare

Best New Composition/Arrangement: Co-operative Funeralcare
You Needed Me (Randy Goodrum arr. Adrian Drover)

Best Section/Ensemble: Co-operative Funeralcare
There's A Great Day Coming (Will Thompson arr. Terry Everson / Allan Ramsay)

Best Soloist: Chris Mansfield (trombone) — Kingdom Brass
As If We Never Said Goodbye (Andrew Lloyd Webber arr. Bill Geldard)

Best Performance of a Howard Snell Composition/Arrangement: Whitburn
Candide Overture (Leonard Bernstein arr. Howard Snell)

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    


Music for isolation

Svalbard isolation inspires new CD release

July 3 • The forthcoming CD release from the acclaimed tuba and saxophone duo of Gideon Jukes and Rie Takeuchi is inspired by one of the world's most northern settlements.


Tone Halo

Tone Halo makes sound impression on global customers

July 3 • CalderpipsMusic's 'Tone Halo' makes a mark on the brass accessory market place.


Brass Band week

Nationwide span for Brass Band Week

July 3 • You can enjoy bands in the north, south, east and west of the country for the Brass Band Week of performances.


Cory

New President at Cory

July 3 • Long term supporter Ken Price has accepted the Band President role with Cory Band.


Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Ocean Brass

July 4 • Ocean Brass are inviting applications for a kit player, as we prepare for an exciting schedule of concerts and contests in the second section through 2025 and beyond! We rehearse Thursdays 8pm-10pm, Banister Park Bowls Club, Southampton, SO50 9HT


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Chinnor Silver

July 3 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meet fortnightly on a Monday morning (next rehearsal 7th) and we welcome any players who want an extra blow.. We require no allegiance just come and enjoy the friendly blow with coffee and cake thrown in.(Its all free)


Dave Collins

BA (Hons) (Dunelm) I, FSCO
Composer and Arranger


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd