It's been a real rollercoaster year for Thoresby Colliery Band — and one that certainly deserves a drink in celebration.
A season that has already included podium finishes at the Brass at the Guild Hall contest, Midlands Regional Championship and the Senior Cup, means that just months after the closure of last pit in Nottinghamshire that supported them for so long, a rejuvenated band now has a bright future to look forward to.
Cost
However, that welcome success does come at a cost — especially their first trip to the Royal Albert Hall since 2011, as they explained.
"Our trophy cabinet is now looking rather healthy after a few years of slim pickings — with some nice cups to polish. However, the qualification for the National Final, whilst an amazing feat, left us scratching our heads when we had to consider the cost of success. It has meant some serious fundraising."
Ingenious
Some ingenious thinking and hard work has now seen generous donations from local companies- from the likes of T Alloys, Penny Hydraulics and Windblowers — although the most enjoyable has surely been a brilliant link with local brewers at The Lincoln Green Brewery.
Cheeky
Brewery Managing Director, Anthony Hughes told 4BR: "When I received a rather cheeky, yet interesting e-mail explaining the band's success and need to fundraise, the link between the Edwinstowe area, the heart of Sherwood Forest and that of our company, Lincoln Green was obvious."
He added: "I immediately responded to their call for help in the best way I know — by coming up with the idea of brewing a beer for the occasion.
Since that initial contact we've had 'Beer & Brass' Festivals at our two pubs 'The Robin Hood & Little John' and the 'Sir John Borlase Warren'. The main work though has been behind the design and manufacture of a beer and pump-clip specifically for Thoresby Band.
A donation per pint sold of 'The Finals Countdown' will go directly to them and their National Finals campaign — and we wish them all the very best."
I immediately responded to their call for help in the best way I know — by coming up with the idea of brewing a beer for the occasionBrewery Managing Director, Anthony Hughes
Apprentice brewers
As part of the process, band members Rich Walker, Richard Bond and Ian McCormick dutifully (there were no shortage of volunteers by all accounts) swapped their instruments for the day and became Apprentice Brewers. Working alongside the Head Brewer, the Thoresby 'Brewmeisters' learned about the merits of different hops, malt and flavour profiles before helping to come up with the perfect beer for the event…
