Looking back through the record books, the bands that have won in Wales, the West of England and the Midlands in the years ending in 9 haven’t always gone on to remain in the top section for ever and a day.

West of England:

In the West of England these were the winner since 1949:

1949: Camborne – still in the top section this weekend
1959: St Dennis – back in the top section this weekend after a long period out
1969: St Dennis – as above
1979: Sun Life – dead and buried
1989: Sun Life – as above
1999: Bodmin – not competing this year.

Wales:

1949: Cory – still around of course
1959: Melingriffith – dead, then revived as City of Cardiff in Second Section
1969: Lewis Merthyr – still competing but now in the Second Section
1979: Cory – as above
1989: Point of Ayr – another band risen from the dead and now in the First Section

Midlands:

1949: Munn & Feltons – now of course Virtuosi GUS
1959: Rushden Temperance – now a Windmill and in the Third Section
1969: GUS – still going strong
1979: Birmingham School of Music – dead as a dodo
1989: William Davis – gone to the banding graveyard
1999: Ransome – on life support and not competing

Makes for sober reading ….