The Lewis Merthyr Band is looking forward to the new contesting year after enjoying a season of considerable progress under MD, Craig Roberts.

High

2015 ended on a high as they came runner-up in the First Section of the Welsh League Championship — a fine achievement given the difficulties they faced at times, according to Chairman Paul Williams.

"It's been a very challenging year for us," Paul Williams admitted to 4BR.

"At one point during the summer we were genuinely concerned about our future. The band was down to just nine players and things did look pretty bleak, but with the loyalty of our longstanding members, then the arrival of Craig as our new MD and fresh influx of new and returning players, the future now looks bright."

Boosted

In the last few months Lewis Merthyr has been boosted by a number of successful contest performances — including a brace of well earned podium finishes at two of the three Welsh League events.

They've also undertaken a series of high profile concerts, entered into a new twinning agreement with a German Wind Orchestra from their twin town of Ravensburg, and performed for over 50,000 people at the Millennium Stadium in the warm up to the Rugby World Cup.

The band has also created links with a number of local schools, re-launched their Junior Band as part of the Cory Academy scheme and updated their social media presence.

It's testament to the players, new and longstanding and that unique Rhondda spirit to see things turn around like this. There's a great atmosphere now and a fantastic events calendar lined up for 2016MD, Craig Roberts

Turning corner

"It's great to see the band turning the corner,"Craig Roberts told 4BR. "It's testament to the players, new and longstanding and that unique Rhondda spirit to see things turn around like this. There's a great atmosphere now and a fantastic events calendar lined up for 2016."

Paul Williams added: "We're all looking forward. Ending the year with a couple of trophies in the cupboard is great, but a full calendar and practically full band around the stand is more than we could have hoped for in June."