News - July 2008
The busy summer concert season is now drawing to a close for your
band, Foresters Brass 2000, with some excellent performances to reflect
on and lots of money raised for charities and Foresters Courts up and
down the country. Perhaps the most memorable concert was in Melton
Mowbray, Leicestershire, where the band was playing to support the
chosen charity of Bro. Neville Jackson and his Court. Almost £1,500 was
raised for the Motor Neurone Association. Nev played with the band for
many years and, as a young Foresters Court Secretary back in the 1950s,
was instrumental in sowing the seeds which lead to a relationship
between the band and the Friendly Society which has now spanned more
than 5 decades. The concert was a great opportunity for the band to
repay Nev's unfaultering, ongoing support.
As well as practicing for future concerts and competitions, the band's
musical director Peter Collins and our solo horn player, Oliver Hatton,
are both in training of a different sort: As reported in previous issues
of Miscellany, the band is trying to buy new instruments to replace some
of the existing stock - much of which goes back to Nev's day and
beyond!! Pete and Ollie are both keen runners as well as superb
musicians, and have decided to do a sponsored run around Rutland Water
to bolster band funds. They will attempt the gruelling 20-mile challenge
in September. Suggestions that they run in uniform, playing their
instruments, have been politely declined! If anybody would like to
sponsor Pete and Ollie, please do give Pete a buzz on 07970 777123.
Those that have seen Foresters Brass 2000 in action will have noticed
that our efforts to nurture and encourage young musicians are certainly
paying off: We're proud to report that, at the most recent course and
concert of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, no fewer than
5 young players represented the Foresters. Mat Hampton, Richard Baker,
Alice Norman, Jo Stephenson and Edmund Bennetts are certainly stars of
the future and, following in the footsteps of Pete Collins who was solo
cornet at NYBBGB for a number of years, are a sure sign that the future
is secure for Foresters Brass 2000 and for the brass movement in
general.
For details of where and when Foresters Brass 2000 is performing, please
visit www.forestersbrass.co.uk
Dan Baker, Chairman, Foresters Brass 2000.