*
banner

Raising the Spinnaker

Spinnaker Brass has made an impression on their contesting debut — and with the local Police too!

 

Spinnaker Brass, based in Fareham, recently played for the very first time at the Regional Championships in Torquay under musical director, Derek Jones.

Achievement

The band was only formed in July last year so it was somewhat of an achievement to be able to contest after such a short period of time.

Even though they came 12th in the Fourth Section it was an immensely encouraging result for a first run out but the band told 4BR that they will be looking to improve on that next year.

The car in question belonged to our conductor and was unfortunately a write-off, but the incident only made them more determined to play well and turn disaster into triumphSpinnaker Brass

Impact

Spinnaker has attracted players from all over the area but is still looking to strengthen a few areas especially the cornet section which it believes will enable it to make more of an impact in the future.

Drama

The weekend was not without drama though as on the Friday evening most of the band were enjoying a quiet drink in a local hostelry before an early night when we heard that a car being pursued by the police had smashed into a car parked opposite the pub.

The car in question belonged to our conductor and was unfortunately a write-off, but the incident only made them more determined to play well and turn disaster into triumph.

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    


First Old Boys

Youth fly musical flag for Old Boys

February 28 • A trio of talented young players from 1st Old Boys Band will be making their mark with different representative ensembles later this year.


York Barbican

National Finals to move to York

February 27 • The Section 1-4 National Finals will be held York Barbican this year as the contest heads north from Cheltenham.


Norwegain

11 bands face potential Norwegian national relegation

February 27 • Bands that failed to pay their annual NMF membership fee on time could find themselves relegated to the bottom tier of their National Championship.


French National Championships

French bands prepare for National challenges

February 27 • The 2026 French National Championships take place in Forges-les-Eaux in Normandy this weekend.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Oompah Brass XXL

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 1 March • St. Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street. London SE10 9BJ


Regent Hall Concerts - London Central Fellowship Band

Saturday 7 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Tuesday 10 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Harlow Brass Band

February 27 • We are a friendly, non-contesting band who have the following vacancies:. Trombones, 2nd Horn, Back Row Cornets, Percussion. . We rehearse every Thursday in Harlow, 8-10pm and play at local events throughout the year.


Newmarket Town Band

February 27 • Newmarket Town Band is inviting applications for the post of 'Musical Director'. We are a non-contesting band who play to a high standard with regular bookings throughout the year. Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:30pm


Banks Brass Band

February 25 • It's not too late to join Banks Brass Band, a friendly non-contesting band near Southport. All players welcome particularly euphoniums, trombones and basses. Rehearsals: Mondays 8.00-9.30pm in the Hub@Banks community centre, PR9 8BL


John Durrant

MA LLCM TD CertEd (Dist)
Conductor, Band Trainer, Composer, Trumpet and Cornet Soloist, Arranger, Adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd