Apologies to the girls on the customer service desk, but a small group returned to Tescos on Xmas Eve to bring more Xmas spirit to the last minute shoppers!!! Thanks to Phil, Ian, Doug, Alex, Chris, Sylvia and Aimee. Doug took the cash so we'll have to wait for the final total...## And a special thanks to David Esle for collecting - certainly our collector of the year :-)

Another great TB outing. Phil Mott. conducted the TB in Tescos on Tuesday. Some very positive comments from passers by... one said it reminded them of Black Dyke MIlls Band :-) Thanks to collectors Jill, Paula, Tony, David Else, Denise, and to Ian, Les and Dave Brook for helping out musically. Last chance to hear the main band carolling on Weds 1-3pm Tescos Chester :-) TB at Saughall on Sunday night of course. £161 collected by the TB on Friday at Sainsburys, thanks to all who gave.... and £84 at Tescos. A great start to 2004, meaning the TB can continue with tuition and begin looking for a suitable location to enable the main TB, a beginners group and tuition - not possible at the Scout Hut.... If you've a few spare rooms in Chester, drop us a line!!!

Quick email from our travelling Euphonium player Christine.... Just think what she's missing by not being in Chester though..... Hey Guys, > > Well I haven't written for a while, so figured I better update you. > > Last week we had our office xmas party. We played party games, had food and drink and we did a secret santa too which was quite fun. > > Afterwards we decided to go to the pub, but we had so much food left over, we didn't no what to do with it. We decided to go and find a homeless person to give it to. So off we trapesed, all 15 of us, down the high street in Sydney looking for a homeless person. We saw a guy sitting outside some shops and asked him if he'd like some food. Well, he thought xmas had come early and was very grateful. > > We finished work for xmas yesterday and I made my first sale too! which I'm quite proud of. We've got a couple of weeks off now, then I'll go back for a week or so before we move on up the east coast. > > Yesterday a group of us went to 'Carols In the Domain' (basically, a concert in the botanical gardens where artists perform xmas carols). It was so amazing. There were around 100,000 people there and everyone lit candles - which was a magnificant site to see! > > On xmas day we're having a party at the house, then 'attempting' to cook a xmas dinner (for 40 people). In the afternoon we'll go to the beach and have a BBQ in the evening. > > Hope you have a wonderful xmas and all the best for the new year, > Lots of Love, Christine > xxxx still thinking? mmmm

A thankyou email has been received from Amanda Bretton at the Hopsice of The Good Shepherd. They hope to have raised over £15,000 from their annual Tree appeal, for which the band played on a very cold Sunday a couple of weeks a go.

Saughall Parish Church - check events pages and join us!!!

The training band had an excellent turnout at Sainsburys on Friday 19th. Sight-reading new carols under the direction of Phil Mottershead!! Thanks to collectors Tony and Paula Blain, Jill Townsend, Andrew Jackson and David Else, and for main band support from Les and Ian, and to Donna for lugging stands and music!

in town cancelled

Yep it's true - read it here first before Hello mag. Russell Crow fought his way over to Christine, our travelling Euph player currently in Australia, in order to insist she took his autograph!!!! after the premier of his latest block buster... Don't know if she persuaded him to come along to Training Band or not... watch this space!

Grosvenor Garden Centre We were there today. And will be there on Sunday. 11am Parade with a very genuine looking Santa (and you can meet him in his grotto later), then we'll play some Xmassy music - first by the fantastic funfair rides, and then a bit warmer inside!! Collectors welcome....

A small band of 13 players braved the cool night air in Chester this evening, for the annual Christmas Lights switch on. With no Euphs or Baritones due to the early start and work commitments, there was a quick re-shuffle of the available players……. Judith moved from Solo Horn to Solo Cornet, Mandy from Flugel to Solo Cornet and Robert from Solo Cornet to Very Solo Euph. A short march around the town was followed by a fine rendition of popular carols and Christmas music on the stage. A fine performance was given by all who took part!