News - June 2011
Foresters Conquer Cornwall…
Foresters Brass 2000 had a fantastic weekend in Cornwall (17 – 19
June), returning from the Bugle Band Contest with four impressive
trophies to add to their already bulging silverware cabinet!
Playing the march ‘The President’ and Eric Ball’s test piece ‘Peniel’,
Foresters won the first section by a considerable margin, as well as the
best march performance. Solo euphonium player Lucas Wong won the best
instrumentalist in the section, and the best tuba section of the entire
contest was also awarded to Foresters, with Paul Oliver, Neal Oliver,
Danielle Thomas and Dan Marlow all going on stage to collect their
trophy.
The event is held outdoors in the picturesque Cornish village of Bugle,
and all the bands were buffeted by strong winds throughout the day. This
didn’t seem to deter the players though, although it did lead to a light
hearted moment when the adjudicator’s remarks were read out: William
Relton commented: “Solo trombone is a little on the quiet side at the
end”, to which principal trombone Ed Swindell admitted to the band:
“Yes, my music was blowing half way across the next field by then!”
The superb sweep of wins was part of an excellent weekend for the band,
which concluded with a concert on the way home, at Trago Mills in Devon.
This was organised to help the local Foresters Court raise funds for
their chosen charity and, despite the band being late having spent an
hour on a grass verge on the edge of Plymouth after the bus broke down,
the event was enjoyed by all. The band committee is grateful to Alex
Batershill, former High Chief Ranger, for organising the event which was
attended by the current HCR Richard Darlington. He and his wife made the
long journey from Kent especially to hear the band.
The band is already planning to make a return visit to Cornwall in 2012
– to enjoy some more wonderful Cornish hospitality, and of course with
the intention of defending their titles and bringing even more trophies
home to Leicester!