*
banner

£20,000 brass boost for Foresters

Big cash boost helps worn out Foresters gain new lease of instrument life.

Foresters
 

Foresters Brass 2000 has announced it has reached its ambitious target of raising £20,000 during 2008 to replace worn out instruments and equipment.

Grant win

The Leicester-based band won a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery and has gone on to match that amount through several fundraising activities.

Sponsored run

Perhaps the most significant event saw MD Pete Collins and solo horn player Oliver Hatton completing a gruelling 20 mile sponsored run around Rutland Water, accompanied by half the band on tandems – quite a sight!

The band is also extremely grateful to its sponsors, the Foresters Friendly Society, for additional support and to its trustees Barrie and Vera Edwards who also made a significant donation.

We finally got our own permanent band room a year ago, to now fill that with new instruments and equipment is a fantastic achievementMD, Peter Collins

New set

Foresters can now boast an entire new set of percussion equipment, two euphoniums, an Eb bass, a Bb bass, two tenor horns and four cornets.

Fantastic achievement

An order for a baritone and another Eb bass are also about to be placed. Musical Director Peter Collins told 4BR: "We finally got our own permanent band room a year ago, to now fill that with new instruments and equipment is a fantastic achievement. You don’t really appreciate the difference new instruments will make until you have them – the sound, the tuning and of course the morale of the band – this is an incredibly positive start to 2009."

New toys

Even with all those new toys, there is one gap in the band — but Chairman Dan Baker says that should now be a little easier to fill:

"Just as all the new percussion equipment arrived – including three timps, a glockenspiel, xylophone, tam tam, bass drum and more toys than you can shake a stick at – our regular percussionist had to step down for personal reasons. I’m hoping that we’ll have a better chance of luring a new percussionist – kit or tuned – along to the band now that he or she will have all this fantastic new equipment to get stuck into!"

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    


4BR Preview

4BR Review — Episode 9

October 7 • Join the conversion with your views and opinions about the Royal Albert Hall National Final — who you think may win and what you feel should be done to secure its future.


the cooperation band

Half century mark for cooperation players

October 7 • Keith Johnstone and Ray Munday have just notched up 50 years of outstanding service to the brass band movement — with an appearance at the Albert Hall to help with the celebrations.


Hindmarsh

Heaton spotlight on Radio 3

October 7 • The life and music of Wilfred Heaton will be discussed by author Paul Hindmarsh on Radio 3's flagship arts programme 'In Tune' next Monday.


Smith and Grezzy

Podcast: Smith & Grezzy's Big Chat Brass

October 7 • The new podcast episode from Sandy Smith and Simon Gresswell is now out.


Regent Hall Concerts - Stately Brass Quintet

Friday 10 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Academy Symphonic Brass

Friday 10 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Autumn Concert

Saturday 11 October • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB S32 1BB


Contest: National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain

Saturday 11 October • The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Tuesday 14 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Welwyn Garden City Band

October 6 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an exciting and varied Christmas season ahead. Due to an employment relocation, we have an immediate vacancy for a FRONT ROW CORNET player.


Tewit Silver Band

October 4 • Principal Eb Bass. Our established bass section are looking for a strong leader to elevate their performance - could that be you? We have an exciting contest schedule including the Scottish Open and and full set of new Besson basses!


Tewit Silver Band

October 4 • Principal Eb Bass. Our established bass section are looking for a strong leader to elevate their performance - could that be you? We have an exciting contest schedule including the Scottish Open and and full set of new Besson basses!


Howard J Evans

MA (Dist), Mus.B (hons), ARCM (hons), LRAM, LTCL, PGCE
Conductor, composer, arranger, tutor and pianist


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd