Pillowell Silver Band
2008 News Archive
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Monday 29th December - Rob Retains his title
The Pillowell Silver Band regret to announce that their prized plumber has cleaned up once again at the Orchards Golf Club in Huntley. He had a 5 shot winning margin and this has left several of the competitors suffering from extreme depression. Congratulations Rob ... but your time will soon be up ...
1st. Robert Walkerdine
2nd. Steve Ruck
3rd. Hayley Norris
4th. Ben Homer
Tuesday 23rd December - Christmas Golf at Pillowell
Can Rob Walkerdine retain his title? Pillowell Band will be having their Christmas Golf day at the Orchard Gold Course, Huntley on Monday 29th December (www.orchardgolfcourse.co.uk) The first golfer will tee off at 9:46AM. All are welcome, especially if you feel you can take the crown away from our prized plumber. He is undefeated in this competition!
Sunday 14th December - Christmas Update
The residents of Pillowell congregated at the chapel on Friday 12th December to enjoy the annual performance given by the Pillowell Silver Band and the Pillowell Singers. A fabulous night was had by all with both band and choir giving a festive concert of good old Christmas favourites. The band would like to thank the Pillowell Singers for their participation in the evening, Paul Broderick for being once again, top compere, and the village committee who continually support the band. The band will be out and about carol playing around the village in the coming days. Our Christmas draw will take place at the Swan Inn, Pillowell at 8:00PM on Wednesday 17th December. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Post Office, Whitecroft. Big Prizes Available!
The Pillowell Band would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year and look forward to continued success in 2009.
Sunday 7th December - Successful Concert at the Masonic Lodge
A full house enjoyed the concert given by the Pillowell Silver Band on Saturday 29th November with guest soloist, Dewi Griffiths, principal cornet of Tredegar Town Band. Dewi showed his phenomenal technical capabilities with, The Paragon and legendary cornet caprice, Zelda whilst also showing off his superb flugel sound with the jazzy, Georgia on my Mind. If that wasn't enough we were also treated to the lyrical, My Love is like a Red Red Rose. It was a very enjoyable evening and the band would like to thank, Neil Crowe of Bream Band who played on Soprano in the absence of James Graham and Cyndy Button of the West Mercia Police Band, who helped out on the front row. Paul Broderick did a superb compere's job and did well with some tricky Welsh pronunciations!
The band is currently preparing for its Annual Christmas Concert this Friday, 12th December at Pillowell Chapel. Tickets are available at the door, and as with the Masonic Lodge concert, this one promises to be just as good! It all kicks off at 7:30PM and we hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Sunday 16th November - Pillowell Clean up at SWBBA
The Pillowell Silver Band entered the annual South West Brass Band Association Contest on Saturday 15th November and walked away with 1st Prize and the Special Award for the Best Horn Section after giving our performance of the set work, Episodes for Brass by Gareth Churcher. After a number 2 draw the band put up a performance which although not quite as polished as the one we gave at the GBBA in October, still had enough quality and style to find favour with the adjudicator, Steve Pritchard-Jones. Special congratulations must go to the horn section (Team Horn!) for winning the Best Horn Section Award. The Horn Section consists of, Lucy Nelmes, Tessa Broderick, Merla Leopold and Jenny Higgins. Lyndon Follows (Flugel Horn) would also be enjoying his place in the limelight but on this occasion claimed that the Flugel Horn was infact a cornet literally minutes before the results were given out - better luck next time Lyndon! The band were awarded 182 points and would like to also offer their congratulations to the St. Stythians Band from Cornwall who took second prize with 181 points. This result comes nicely after our recent win at the local GBBA and we are ever more optimistic about our future and hope we can keep improving at the rate we have been over the last 6 months. Click Here for Photo's from the Weekend!
The band are currently preparing for a Concert on Saturday 29th November which will feature a guest cornet soloist, Dewi Griffiths from the Tredegar Town Band (Current Champion Band of Wales). We look forward to welcoming Dewi to this area of the world and hope that together we can provide an enjoyable evening.
Results of SWBBA Contest 3rd Section 2008
Special Prize for Best Horn Section - Pillowell Silver
1. Pillowell Silver - Steve Ruck - 182
2. St Stythians - James Burns - 181
3. Weston Brass - John Bryant - 179
4. Hayle - Derek Johnston - 178
5. Pendennis Falmouth - Steve Thomas - 177
6. Sidmouth - Adrian Harvey - 176
7. Launceston - David Dobson - 175
(w) Bugle Silver
Monday 27th October - Personal Update
The Pillowell Silver Band are pleased to announce the recent signings of Andy Kear on Eb Bass, and Lindsay Cooper on Percussion. Both are joining us from the A.W.Parker Drybrook Band and Andy's first contest will be our assault on the SWBBA contest in Torquay on November 15th. The band are currently looking for a 1st class solo cornet player and a experienced back row cornet player. If you think you would be suitable for either of these positions go to out contacts page for information on how to join this forward thinking band.
Great news for Forest Banding at the weekend as local rivals, Bream Silver, took 2nd place in the 3rd Section Pontin's Championships at Prestatyn. Our congratulations go to Huw and the band on this excellent achievement.
Monday 20th October - Promising Performance at the GBBA Contest!
Pillowell Band entered the GBBA Contest on Sunday 19th October and were awarded 1st prize in the own choice test piece, playing Episodes for Brass by Gareth Churcher. The band entered the combined 2nd/3rd section are were more than happy with this fantastic result. Congratulations must go to A.W.Parker Drybrook who piped us in the march contest. We had to be content with 2nd place after giving a pleasing performance of T.J.Powells, The Contestor. This performance bodes well for the future of Pillowell Band after a generally disappointing start to the year. The band is optimistic about the upcoming SWBBA contest in November where we will be looking forward to playing this piece to an even higher standard. Special congratulations to our Soprano Cornet player, James Graham who walked away with the best soloist in the section. A big thank you must go to Charlie Dowdswell who played for us as a borrowed player on Eb Bass from Newmarket Town Band of the 4th Section (Please see our vacancies page if you are interested).
Results:
Own Choice Test Piece
1. Pillowell Silver (S.Ruck) - Episodes for Brass - 184
2. A.W.Parker Drybrook (K.White) - Variations on Laudate Dominum - 182
March
1. A.W.Parker Drybrook (K.White) - Castell Coch - 83
2. Pillowell Silver (S.Ruck) - The Contestor - 82
Soloist of the Section - James Graham, Soprano Cornet, Pillowell Silver
Sunday 31st August - News Update
Another summer ends and Pillowell Silver Band will perform at the annual village fete (weather permitting) on Saturday 6th September. Check the events page for programme information. Playing commences at 2:00PM so please come along and support the village and to see the many attractions on show.
Musical chairs within the band at the end of August sees the return of Pete Sherwood on Euphonium with Paul Ainsworth joining on Bb Bass and Jo Hanley on Baritone. Finally the shed builders are pleased to welcome Tom Ovens and Mitchell Austen who will complete the percussion line up.
Sunday 27th July - Ross Bandstand Concert
A pleasant day was had by all at the Ross Bandstand where the Pillowell Silver Band gave an entertaining programme to a packed crowd. Featuring the concert march, Mississauga Spirit, an excellent solo contribution from Kate Smith in the form of My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, the well loved Lord of the Dance and The Shepherds Song, a traditional folk song from the Auvergne. If you missed us this time do not worry as we will next be performing at Newent Lakeside on Sunday 10th August.
Saturday 26th July - Summer News Update
From the month of June, Pillowell Silver Band have been entertaining at the Great Oaks Hospice in Coleford, Minsterworth Church, Stratford Park in Stroud and the Rising Sun Pub at Moseley Green. The month of June saw members of the Pillowell Junior Band, Pillowell School Band and the Pillowell Silver Band take part in the annual Bailey Lane End competition on Saturday June 28th. The results were as follows...
Class 5A (Under 11's)
1. Sophie Collier (Pillowell Silver Band)
2. Robyn Topping (Pillowell Junior Band)
3. Alex Watkins (Pillowell School)
Sophie Collier is currently playing 2nd Cornet in the main band whilst Robyn is playing in the junior band and Alex in the Pillowell School band. A special thanks to Alan Beddis and Trevor Watkins for their work with the junior band and school band.
In the under 16 duet competition Josh Ruck (Pillowell Silver Band) and Emily Harding (A.W.Parker Drybrook Band) won 1st prize performing the duet 'Playmates'. Special thanks to Dave Ventura for accompanying them on the piano. Congratulations also to Josh Ruck on getting a distinction at Grade 7 cornet this month.
Sunday 8th June - Death of Len Pluck
The Pillowell Silver Band are saddened to report the passing of our former percussionist Len Pluck, who died last Wednesday, 4th June. The bands sends its condolences to the family of Len at this sad and difficult time.