Waltham St. Lawrence Silver Band

The council's "Sunny Saturday" theme ran true to its name on Saturday 28 June, and it was shirtsleeves and band caps for those not in the shade in Woodley shopping precinct as the band treated shoppers to an early afternoon concert.

Weather forecasts for rain on Sunday 22 June proved wrong, and it turned out to be a warm and sunny day for the Waltham St. Lawrence parish fete. The band occupied one tent among many in the garden and field behind the Bell Inn, and performed a variety of pieces through the afternoon under the baton of guest conductor Andy Thorne.

On 17th June a coach containing a tired but happy Waltham St. Lawrence Silver Band drew up to Neville Hall at the conclusion of its latest visit to Germany. The band had been taking part in the Schützenfest ("marksmen's fair") in Friesheim, near Cologne, as part of its regular exchange with Musikverein Friesheim (MVF), the local concert band.

The event started on 14th June with a parade around the village in which both bands marched and played. They marched in several other parades over the long weekend, and the two bands staged two open-air joint concerts at the fair. The local shooting club was very appreciative of our participation, and presented us with a metal plaque as a memento.

Waltham Band and Musikverein Friesheim have been visiting each other regularly over the past twelve years, with a band travelling one way or the other every two years. The exchange has given rise to many lasting friendships and private visits. We look forward very much to playing host to MVF in Waltham in 2010, and the opportunity to reciprocate the generous hospitality of our German friends.

Maidenhead Carnival kicked off with a colourful procession amid very fine weather at midday on Sunday. Waltham St. Lawrence band brought up the rear of the first (non-motorised) section of the parade, which was led by the Reading Scottish Pipe Band. Marches included not only traditional numbers such as Death or Glory and Sons of the Brave, but also a good rendering of Funiculi Funicula.

There are some photos of the band on the march in the Gallery. You can catch a glimpse of Tony Evans, beating the drum in his leopard-skin outfit, in the video of the event on the Maidenhead Advertiser website (link opens in new window).

Wednesday evening's rehearsal on 4th June saw the welcome return to playing of principal cornet Ted Cull, who is recuperating from a heart operation in April. Just what the doctor ordered(?)

The 400th anniversary of the Ralph Newbery's Relief in Need charity, based in Waltham St. Lawrence, was marked on 22 May by a thanksgiving church service followed by a lunchtime gathering at the Bell Inn. The band provided a ten-piece ensemble playing background music at the garden party. The weather was beautiful and the local ale is very good indeed.

The rent from the premises now occupied by the Bell goes to help the local poor thanks to the charity established in local printer Ralph Newbery's will. ITV's Thames Valley Tonight report on the event noted how unusual it is for a village to own its pub, let alone have income from it go to a charity. The band were heard but not seen in the report, with the strains of Hearts of Oak in the background as it began.

The 2008 Spring Concert at Holyport War Memorial Hall was a great success. It featured music from opera, film and TV as well as original pieces for brass, and our special guest Joan Regan gave a fine rendering of some of her hit songs, accompanied by the band and by Don Shearman at the keyboard.

Highlights of a full programme included Ted Cull on cornet playing Puccini's Nessun Dorma and some challenging solos for the trombones in Alan Fernie's colourful version of Lennon & McCartney's When I'm Sixty-Four. The concert opened with Trevor Sharpe's Fanfare and Soliloquy, and closed with Breezing Down Broadway, a pacy arrangement of hit tunes from the pen of Goff Richards.

Proceeds from ticket sales help fund the band's donations to the World Vision charity, sponsoring Prodip Rapidas, a young man in India. Proceeds from the raffle are going to charities nominated by our guest artiste.

More Lloyd Webber with that, ma'm? This might have been a question on Saturday at the Neville Hall, as the band dished up roast beef & yorkshire for senior citizens at the traditional annual dinner which it provides with some of the proceeds from Christmas carolling. The band entertained their guests with a 45-minute concert of light music before the meal, and afterwards there was a cabaret performance by friends of the band.

At an unusal engagement for the charity ball of the Comedians Golfing Society at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, a small band squeezed onto the stage between the main acts' synthesizers and drum kit to play several jolly sea songs. They were marching on the local Sea Cadets, who lined up for inspection by the society's life President, Stan Taylor.