4BR has been informed that a brand new trophy is to be made in time for presentation at the 2019 European Brass Band Championships.

It will replace the iconic trophy designed by Christopher Milton Stevens, which has been presented to the winning band at the contest since 1981.

New remit

Controversially, the decision comes not from EBBA, but from the European Union's Cultural Heritage Commission for the Protection of Indigenous Amateur Music Making (EUCHCPIAMM), as part of its new remit following the UKs departure from the EU in March 2019.

Their official spokesperson Poisson d'Avril told 4BR: "If we are to continue to protect and enhance a European banding culture the trophy must reflect the new order of musical relations when the UK leaves our body in March 2019.

We could not remove the UK from the current trophy so we have commissioned a new one that will include the remaining 27 countries, plus those of the Shengen Agreement."

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments about this year's April Fool news item. Reality is always stranger than fiction though, so you never know, this might actually happen in the years to come...4BR

Negotiations

However, following protracted negotiations 4BR understands that a compromise deal may well be reached, and that if a band from the United Kingdom wins the title in future years, a specially designed 'Lego' brick in the shape of the UK can be temporarily fixed to the new trophy.

The commission to design the new award has been won by the renowned specialist firm of Johnson & Farage, with the cost met by a refund from the £350 million of monies being returned to the UK following Brexit.

April Fool

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments about this year's April Fool news item. Reality is always stranger than fiction though, so you never know, this might actually happen in the years to come...

Iwan Fox & Anthony Banwell