On behalf of the Training Band i would like to thank Mr Ian Clowes for his very kind donation of £100.00 for the band . Ian has always been a strong supporter of the training band since it was started by himself and Robert Fletcher in 2000 as a"feeder band" for the main band . Thank you once again Ian . Tony

Theo has been awarded the Player of the Month for September to go along with his win at the solo competition

Last Sunday 22nd saw the training band hold its solo competition at the Village Hall in Aldford. The day was a great success and with the sun shining it made out for a great day. The day started off with the band performing together in a few songs and was followed by each member playing there solo piece in front of our adjudicators Phil Mottershead Malcolm Peach and Steph Conway. Each member played well and the judges were impressed by what they heard. The overall winner on the day was Theo Clement.

A fanfare from the City of Chester’s cornet section, standing on the bridge beneath Chester’s internationally-recognised Eastgate clock, heralded the start of the Band’s Walking the Walls event on Saturday 7 September. The Band, comprising members of both the training and main sections, were replicating a tradition of the Chester Blue Coat Band from the 19th and 20th centuries when every Saturday the band would walk around the city walls playing. A photograph shows that the weekly tradition was still taking place up to 1936 but it was revived in 2003 as part of the Band’s 150th anniversary celebrations. On Saturday the Band, under the direction of Malcolm Peach, played by the cathedral bell tower, and by King Charles’s Tower before leaving the walls to visit the Blue Coat Hospital in Northgate Street and play, where the band used to be based before acquiring their own premises in the 1970’s. This provided a photo opportunity in the tradition of photos taken in 1953 and 2003. Returning to the walls, the Band stopped to play at Pemberton’s Parlour before arriving at the Northgate, where a short refreshment break was taken before a further performance. Back onto the walls and the next stop was by the Chester Castle portico, a slight deviation from the walls. Then past the Little Roodee to the Bridgegate where a further march was played overlooking the weir covered by a high tide. The next stop was adjacent to Duke Street before returning to the Eastgate for the final play coupled with an encore. The event was largely blessed with fine weather. The City of Chester Band wish to thank Cheshire West & Chester Council, Chester Municipal Charities and the general public for their co-operation in promoting and staging the event.

After a summer break members of the City of Chester (Blue Coat) Band have just resumed their twice-weekly rehearsals under musical director Malcolm Peach.  The first engagement to prepare for is a walk around the city walls on Saturday 7 September.  Around noon, the Band, accompanied by the City of Chester Training Band, will play a fanfare on the Eastgate Bridge to mark the start of the walk.The bands will progress to the cathedral bell tower and play again before moving along the walls to Northgate Street heading for the Blue Coat School, which is where the Blue Coat Band originated, initially as a fife and drum band.  With the backdrop of the Blue Coat School portico, the bands will play before having a group photograph taken, emulating pictures taken in 1953 and 2003, on the occasion of the centenary and sesquicentenary respectively.

The tradition of the band walking the walls stems from the 19th century when every Saturday morning the boys’ band from the Blue Coat School would walk the walls.  There is photographic evidence of the walk taking place in 1936 which appears to be the last occasion until 2003 when, to mark the sesquicentenary and herald a forthcoming concert, the walls walk was repeated.

Returning to the walls from the Blue Coat School, the bands will proceed to the Watergate for a further performance.  Then, similarly, before the Chester Castle portico and then adjacent to the Bridgegate before the bands wend their way along the walls for a final performance in Eastgate Street.

It is with sadness that the band announces the sudden death of our much loved Bandsman, Didier Chupeau. Didier was an integral part of the band; his unexpected departure has left a void, he will be dearly missed. The funeral service will take place at Wrexham Crematorium on Wednesday 28th August at 3:00pm. The band are honoured to have been asked to participate in his farewell and celebration of his life. Our thoughts at this time are with his Partner Nerys, three children Andrew, Carolyn and Ben, his Grandchildren and extended family in France.

Last Monday saw our summer concert for family and friends followed by a few presentations of the Player of the Month which went to Evie Spurdel who as it happens also passed her grade 5 Theory exam with Distinction and we are still waiting on the Euphonium exam result. The next award to be handed out was the Vice President award for the most advanced New player in their first six month with the band this award went to Lewis Turner-Brown but unfortunately Lewis was a away on holiday so the award was presented to Paula on Lewis's behalf. He will be collecting it from my house when he returns.Very well done to both of the members .

Two more Training Band Members have had exam success over the last few weeks they are John Cazeau grade 2 Pass and Robert Tarver grade 4 merit. Well done lads

Well done to Zac for getting this months Player of the Month TB conductor(Matthew) says it was a fairly easy decision to make as Zac has progressed a lot in the short time he has been with the Band.

More members of the training band have been busy passing there music exams recently . Well done to Guy Whale Grade 3 Pass Euph. and Lewis Turner-Brown Grade 3 Pass with Merit Euph. Also well done to Daniel Peover for passing his Grade 2 Cornet exam.