Merry Christmas everyone from Chester Brass Band!!

Tesco's - Many thanks to Tesco's for allowing us to play just before Xmas, and of course the generosity of their customers.... Thursday 22nd June 2004. Over £215 collected while the training band played in Tesco's. Great playing, and fantastic collecting. This will be really useful funding as the training band enters 2005 :). Thanks to: Phil, Brian, Donna, Lizzie, Lauren, Alex, Charlie, Mathew, Jessica, Kirsty, Leanne, Liam, Aine, Claire, Les and Ian with collectors: Mathews Mum Alison and brother!, Paula, Andrew, Tony, David, Helen. On Friday £229 collected whilst the main band played: Phil, Brian, Brian, Jean, Sylvia, Dave, Alex, Kirsty, Lauren, Lizzie, Ian with collectors: Helen, David, Tony, Val, Jack, Jessica and Denise, Denise Well done and Merry Xmas!!!

First Main Band - Fri 7th Jan First Training Band - Mon 10th Jan :)

As well as the story about Derek's retirement being printed in the 17 Dec edition of the Chester Chronicle, it has also featured on the 4barsrest and Brass Band World web sites. See here - http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=2871 - and here - http://www.brassbandworld.com/ (then click on news). Some cracking pictures as well - thanks to Ian 'David Bailey' Clowes.

Dec 18th, saw the band give it's final concert of the year - invited to share the platform by Chester Ladies Choir. And it was a great night, with both choir and band performing fantastically. Probably not for the last time!! Phil Mottershead our new Musical DIrector was at the helm! Saturday 18th December 04, Wesley Methodist Chapel in John Street, Chester.

Today (13th December) our website is 6 years old! Happy birthday website!

The words from John Maines from the NWBBA contest the other Sunday. Thanks to Sylvia MacDonald for transcribing. Testpiece…..MUSIC FOR A FESTIVAL Good opening and all detail is heard. Some untuneful sounds at A (middle of band). C good accomps but melody is not together. Nice euph sound at D and perc do well. F well done horns and everything fits well. Just a little rushing at G. Euph just the odd slip but still good to J. Horns loose this time. Andantino. Euph nervy. Horn/cornet join well. Nice lead into larghetto but tuning here in middle sounds is not at its best. Perhaps a little more passion? in appasionatta. Meno Mosso is well played although again euph not entirely secure. Lovely cornet playing. Nice horn sounds at K good to L. A little untuneful to start at L otherwise quite good. Meno Mosso insecure. Vivo starts well but loses a little control at M. S/d gets out with band. Tuning not at its best before P accidentals?. Nice cantabile well done horns. R – S good. T A little scrappy horns otherwise everything seems to work well. Moves on to a good ending. A good show, just too many nervy moments today. Thanks Adjudicator…..John Maines.

Due to Christmas parties and Christmas approaching in general, there will be no rehearsal on Friday 10 Dec 04. So the next gathering wll be at Morrisons on Saturday. Some band members will be taking the opportunity to do some final Christmas shopping on Friday instead and may end up doing their weekly shop at Morrisons on Saturday!!

Main Band - small group at Naylor Court 7pm Training Band at Scout Hut as usual

Derek's last outing: See our photo section..... Derek with the 'youngsters' Derek receiving his NWBBA award Derek and the band