Elland Silver Band and MD Phil Shaw have enjoyed a very busy and successful year.

Senior triumph

The Senior Band finished 3rd in the Third Section of the Yorkshire Regional Championships and gained promotion to the Second Section for 2009, whilst for the third year in succession won the Third Section at the Brighouse Hymn & March Contest and finished 3rd overall.

The band also gained 4 first places and 2 second places at the traditional Whit Friday Marches in Tameside — a record for the band.

Their recent annual concert was also a great success with over 300 friends and supporters enjoying a great night of brass entertainment4BR

Youth success

The Youth Band under the leadership of Samantha Harrison were placed 7th overall in the Action Research Entertainment Championship and they also gained a silver certificate in the Community Section of the National Youth Band Championships too.

They also went on to win the Youth Section at the Brighouse & Hymn contest with flugel player Owen Hicks taking the soloist prize, whilst solo trombone player Daniel Eddison won the trombone prize at the Tameside contest.

The band also raised money for a new band headquarters as well as for local charities.

Concert treat

Their recent annual concert was also a great success with over 300 friends and supporters enjoying a great night of brass entertainment. During the concert special awards were made to secretary Kathleen Harrison and treasurer Kenneth Billington for 25 years in office for the band — a magnificent achievement.

Awards

Other awards were made to Albert Gaukroger, Ben Clapham and Dulcie Fieldhouse, three young people who help Samantha with the training band. Murray Greig was recognised for his work with the Youth Band and Phil Shaw and Samantha Harrison also received gifts for their unstinting hard work.

New players to join the ranks are Nic Bamforth on Bb bass, Eleanor Chester on percussion and Sophie Greig who moves up from the Youth band to the percussion section and Murray Greig joins the cornet line.