Hi to Joy who sent an email about joining the training band. Unfortunately my replies to you has been returned - address not known. Don't worry - training band is resting for the summer, but training band players are invited to join main band for rehearsals. Drop me another email with your email address and we'll try again! Ian

There will be no training band on Monday 26th July because of holiday commitments. Training Band starts again on 6th September. Anyone who would like to sit in at Main Band through the summer will be very welcome.

So, there we were, assembling at Gorse Stacks, ready to take part in a sun-drenched Lord Mayor’s Parade. Well, we certainly ended-up drenched, but in rain not sunshine! We should have known that the Parade was not going to go well when, right at the start, we had to watch our step to avoid some strategically placed horse manure. Things went from bad to worse as we marched down Frodsham Street and the heavens opened. Within seconds our uniform jackets were soaked through, the basses’ expensive hair-dos ruined, and the black dots were dropping off the music. Nevertheless, we persevered and made it intact to the Roodee, despite a close shave on the slippery road surface as we were heading down Watergate Street. On arrival at the racecourse the result of the Band’s Wet T-Shirt competition was announced – a tie between Bill Stronach and Paul Goldbourne (the prize is a course of flu treatment). Having said all that, it’s always a great honour to be asked to take part in the Lord Mayor’s Parade – it’s such a shame that all the participants had to endure such dreadful conditions. Never mind, next year the weather will be better, I promise!

Name some traditional wedding music – does Singin’ In The Rain or The Muppet Show Theme spring to mind? Thought not! Never afraid to be daring, the City of Chester band redefined the boundaries of wedding music last Saturday (July 17th) at the Flint wedding of Dave and Kay, now Mr and Mrs Evans. Asked to play before, during and after the service, the Band kept the congregation entertained with a number of different items, including the afore-mentioned music. Our small but select group of players even managed to give the groom something to think about by playing The Great Escape just before the arrival of the bride! Thankfully everything went as intended, vows were exchanged, and all agreed that the Band’s presence had given Dave and Kay a unique and memorable start to their married life. Our best wishes go to the happy couple. P.S. The day was also memorable for Ian Clowes, the Band’s former cornet/baritone player, who is now to be found in the Euphonium section. Ian was called upon to play a Euphonium solo in public for the first time and did it so well he had to play it again as an encore. Yet another ‘Well Done’…

The Band received a welcome reminder at Friday night’s rehearsal of how its youth policy is paying off. Kirsty Blain, our 14 year old 2nd Horn player, was thrust into the limelight due to the absence of the rest of the Tenor Horn section. Undaunted by being presented with a tricky solo from John Golland’s Chanson Trevaux, Kirsty played the part with the confidence of someone much older than herself and earned a well-deserved round of applause from the rest of the Band. Kirsty is the daughter of Tony and Paula Blain (Tony is our Training Band Co-ordinator), has been a member of the Training Band for a long time, and is also multi-talented, playing the saxophone as well. She is a very quiet young lady, perhaps best known to other Band members for her outrageously proportioned earrings! Well done Kirsty, the Band is very proud of you!

Another debut at the Groves last Sunday, this time for our new banners advertising this web site. The banners were obtained by Ian C (thanks Ian!) and manufactured by Norrie Taylor of Sign Plus, Dunfermline. The Band's grateful thanks go to Norrie, and we're more than happy to give his web site a plug - http://www.signplus.co.uk/ - go have a look for yourself. If you would like to see the new banners 'in action' then follow this link... http://www.chesterbrass.co.uk/?grp=9&pg=2&gallery=59

Thanks to the band PRO Brian Mottershead, Chester gets a mention on this popular website: checkout http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=2315 If you know something of interest - not necessarily musical! Then drop Brian an email.... photo's are even better :)

A big thank-you to our collecting-tin shakers in the Groves on Sunday - they managed to cajole the audience into parting with £116.55! Once expenses have been taken into account and with the addition of the fee from the City Council, the income from the day is a highly creditable £181.55. Good effort by one and all...

...Above Average Band(s)! Visitors to the Groves on Sunday were treated to an afternoon of varied musical entertainment by Chester’s own brass band – us! The programme was interesting enough to persuade a large number of people to stop awhile and listen, despite the well below average temperatures. Along with the main band, our talented group of youngsters put in an appearance as well, in the shape of the Training Band, and their performance was particularly well received by the large and enthusiastic audience. A stiff breeze off the river made life difficult for the musicians, with music having to be well secured to stands in order to prevent it being blown all the way to Eccleston! The Band’s Principal Cornet player, Robert Macdonald, had a particularly hairy moment when his stand was caught by the wind whilst he was playing the solo ‘Sugar Blues’, but he recovered well to produce a highly original and humorous performance (was that a duck I heard?). Other featured soloists included Robert’s wife Mandy on Flugel Horn (a leading contender for 'Laid-Back Soloist of the Year') and, with a wonderful rendition of ‘My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose’, the Band’s Solo Euphonium player, Kathryn Peover. As mentioned earlier, the Training Band took their turn in providing the music, with a number of the youngsters making their Groves debut. With proud families looking on, and members of the main band providing encouragement and support, the Training Band soon had feet tapping and the sound of applause echoing through the riverside area – well done all! Next weekend sees the main band marching on the streets of the City again, this time as part of the Lord Mayor’s Parade. If you are a spectator on the day then keep an eye (and ear) out for float number 18, and be sure to give Chester’s merry band of music makers an extra loud cheer! See you there… P.S. Be warned Cornet Section - next time the percussionist WILL have Pearl Harbour in the folder!

More sporting success! Congratulations to Lauren Hunt on making it through to the English Schools AAA Championships in Gateshead on Fri 9th July, throwing the discuss! Quick update... Lauren came 9th in the English Schools Competition - competing against girls a year older too. Narrowly missing the final - well done Lauren. On a 'sadder' note - Lizzie cornet (on crutches) and Chloe, TB horn (arm in sling) both injured in the Cheshire Schools Netball championships the other weekend! All fit and well again now.. :) Final bit of sporting success. Helen (just left the TB) was part of the winning champion relay team in the Cheshire Schools Championships on July 12th)