STB - News Archive 2006

This month sees the launch of our new website, through which we aim to keep you updated with news, events and contest results. Tom Clemo is the official webmaster, ably assisted by Elaine Cordy and Fiona Bell, and they will be regularly adding photos and information to the site. If you have any comments please visit our guestbook and let us know what you think.

The band have got an exciting year coming up. In April we will be making our second CD, which you will be able to purchase through this site, and following excellent results at Exmouth and Torquay last year, we have high hopes for the forthcoming contests. For those of you who are local, we intend holding an ‘open rehearsal’ before the Area contest in March, where you could watch us rehearsing the test piece and see what contesting involves. The chosen test piece for the fourth section is “Anglian Dances” by Alan Fernie. Further details coming soon.

A number of concerts have been planned, in addition to our regular summer concerts at the Connaught Gardens, and we are delighted to be supporting three local charities in the coming months: Sidmouth Lions Club, Rotary Club and the Macmillan Nurses. See the Engagements List for further details. We are also honoured to have been asked to perform for the South West Brass Band Association in Exmouth in May.

One aim for this year is to increase the number of people learning to play brass instruments. We already have a youth band in place, but we would like to create a beginners’ band which would teach players of all ages to read music and play an instrument. We are in the process of applying for an Arts Grant, which would help us purchase new instruments, music and uniforms, and if we are successful, you could see the new beginners’ band performing in Sidmouth soon!

So, enjoy browsing through this site, and perhaps we will see you in East Devon soon!

On Saturday 28th January, Sidmouth Town Band performed in a concert with the Rivertones Barber Shop Choir, organised by the Sidmouth Lions’ Club. The concert, held at the Manor Pavilion theatre in Sidmouth, was a sell out and the audience were treated to an entertaining programme. The band featured two of their soloists, with Anna Dimond playing the flugel solo “I Know Why” and Hilary Costa giving a stirring rendition of the euphonium classic “Largo Al Factotum”. The band also tried out a couple of new pieces, including “I Dreamed A Dream” - an audience favourite - and the ever-popular “Instant Concert”, complete with some rather energetic choreography! It was one of the best concerts the band has given, and the appreciative audience helped make the evening one to remember. Both band and choir received a standing ovation after the joint performance of “Fantasia on British SeaSongs”, and it was clearly an event enjoyed by all. The Rivertones were superb, and it has been suggested that this becomes an annual event. The concert raised over Ł1000 for local charities, and the band would like to thank the Lions club for all of their support in organising this concert.

Sad news greeted the band after the Christmas break when we learned that Chris Beavis, our solo horn player, had decided to retire after 50 years with the band.

Chris was born in Sidmouth in 1946. His father, a semi-professional drummer, suggested he join the Town Band - possibly with the view that Chris would eventually join him in the dance band.

The bandmaster at that time was George Derbyshire, who also played trumpet with Chris’ father, so in about 1955 he joined the Town Band on cornet, eventually moving to flugel, then to solo and principal cornet. He received much help from George Derbyshire, Garth Rees and Matt Robertson.
In 1965, Chris did join his father in the band at Warner’s Holiday Camp, Seaton. Unfortunately, his father died in November of that year and, unable to carry on in the dance band, Chris returned to the Town Band. When the Solo Horn player left in 1989, Matt Robertson moved him to that position where he remained until his retirement last month.

Chris was not just a wonderful player: he did so much behind the scenes, from teaching the beginners, to transporting percussion and improving the bandroom with his carpentry skills. His dry sense of humour often left players who sat next to him unable to play with laughter, and he will be tremendously missed by everyone in the band. A presentation will be made to him soon, but for now we wish Chris and his wife Rosie all the best for the future.

On Sunday 19th march, the band will be traveling to Torquay for the West of England Area Finals. Along with 26 other bands, we will be playing Alan Fernie’s “Anglian Dances” - a test piece we are really enjoying, and no doubt the audience at Torquay will really enjoy listening to. The music is described as a snapshot of English village life, and the 5 movements will present all of the bands with an enjoyable challenge as we try to capture the essence of the different scenes they depict.

We are delighted to welcome Diane Tsigarides back to the band. After a brief “time-out” from playing, she has picked up her instrument again and is now playing third cornet, much to Bill’s delight!

We are also extremely grateful to Roger Sleeman, principal cornet of the Honiton Band, who has agreed to help us out on the back row for the contest. Eric, our regular 2nd cornet is in South Africa (which I suppose is a valid excuse!) so many thanks to Roger for filling in the gap.

Unfortunately we will be going to the contest with only two basses, as we have been unable to fill these vacancies. If anyone can help, and would like to join the Sidmouth Town Band, contact us and we’ll make you very welcome!

Interested in seeing what band practice involves? Or how much work goes in to preparing for a contest? Sidmouth Band are holding an open rehearsal on Tuesday 14th March and would like to invite members of the public to join us from 8-10pm at the All Saints Church Hall, Sidmouth, to see what goes on as Adrian puts us through our paces in the week leading up to the contest. It would also give the band a great opportunity to practise the piece in front of an audience - essential in learning to control the nerves - so your support would be greatly appreciated. For further details email Fiona: nuhbell@aol.com or ring her on 01404 548563.

The band are still on cloud nine after their brilliant performance at the West of England Regional Finals on Sunday 19th March. During the final two rehearsals, the piece had really come together, and it was obvious that the band were thoroughly enjoying playing it. However, the question was, could the nerves stand up to it on the day and allow the band to perform at their best on stage?
After a practice in a rather smoky hotel in Torquay, the band sat outside in the sun, nervously awaiting the result of the draw. Then, making our way to the Riviera Centre, where we’d been drawn number 23, players had to wait for another 2 hours before playing, and nerves, anticipation and excitement increased. There was no need to worry – on stage, the band played at their very best, and actually enjoyed the performance! Everyone did the band proud, and it was wonderful that everthing came together at the right time. There was a real buzz amongst the players as we came off stage – delighted with the way we had played, in some ways the results didn’t matter.
Later, it was clear from people’s comments that they had also enjoyed listening, but the question was, would the adjudicators agree? With 4 bands set to qualify for the Nationals in Harrogate, everyone was trying not to get their hopes up, but as the results were announced, a mighty cheer went up as Sidmouth were placed 2nd out of 27 bands. Yes – 2nd!!

So we are on our way to Harrogate. This will cost the band approx. Ł6000 so this is going to be a busy year of fundraising, but the experience of competing again in a National Final (the last time Sidmouth were represented was in 1990) will make it all worth while. Adrian and the band always work so hard – now we have been rewarded. Congratulations to all concerned! Congratulations also to the other qualifiers from the Fourth Section (Verwood, Wincanton and Bream Silver), and the best of luck at the Nationals!

They say there is no rest for the wicked - well, if this is true, the members of Sidmouth Town Band must have done some very bad things in a previous life! Since qualifying for the Nationals in March, there has been no chance of a rest. At the beginning of April, the band recorded their latest CD at the Knowle Coucil Chambers in Sidmouth. The weekend was exhausting, but having heard a sneak preview, I can confirm that it was well worth the effort. The improvements made since the first CD, “Sound Waves”, are unbelievable, and this CD is something that every player can be proud of. It is entitled “Just A Closer Walk”, and a full list of tracks is available by clicking here. They will be on sale at the beginning of June, and if you are unable to get to one of our concerts and would like to order one, contact, Fiona on 01404 548563 for details. We are hoping to have a CD launch event, and further information will be on this web site soon.

With the summer season fast approaching, we are now concentrating on our programmes for the Connaught Gardens. Adrian has even been giving us some singing lessons for one piece, but you’ll have to wait and see what that is all about! The first concert is on Sunday 28th May at 8pm, but if you cannot wait until then to hear the band, come to our next concert at Tower Street Methodist Church, Exmouth on Saturday 20th May at 7.30pm. See our engagement list for details of how to get tickets.

Finally, we’d like to welcome Graham Pollard to the band - a much needed Bb Bass player. Graham has played for many bands of all different levels, and he is a real asset to us (and a Cornishman too!).

The band are having a meeting this week to discuss fundraising ideas for Harrogate. Details will be posted here soon.

Our summer season at the Connaught Gardens started last night - a big thank you to everyone who braved the rather chilly evening to support us. As well as seeing the band every Sunday night, we have a busy summer planned and here are some of the events you could support us at:

Quiz night / CD Launch - Saturday 3rd June, Sidford Village Hall, 8pm. Ł3 per person, teams of up to 6. Everyone who participates in the quiz is entitled to a new CD (on sale for the first time) at the reduced price of just Ł9. Prizes for the winning team. Please bring your own drink.

Last Night of the Proms - Saturday 29th July, Connaught Gardens. More details will be available soon, including news of a guest soloist, but be prepared to get your flags out and sing along to the classic Proms’ repertoire, including Fantasy on British Seasongs, Pomp and Circumstance and Jerusalem. Bring a bottle of bubbly, enjoy one of our cream teas and get involved in what promises to be a wonderful “Sidmouth Spectacular”. We have asked local businesses for their support, and have already had a generous raffle prize donated by Fields of Sidmouth for this event.
Tickets for this event will be on sale soon.

The band would like to wish euphonium player Dudley Ractliffe, who is currently in hospital, a speedy recovery back to full health.

Tickets for our biggest concert of the year are set to go on sale next week (19th June), and we can now confirm all the details for the event.

On Saturday 29th July, at the spectacular Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth, Sidmouth Town Band will be hosting their first ever Last Night Of The Proms concert. With guest singer, Val Howels and local compčre, Wally Cotgrave, the evening promises to be a very special local event. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Sidmouth, or from any band member. Alternatively, you can send an SAE, with a cheque (made payable to Sidmouth Town Band) for Ł5 per ticket to: Fiona Bell, 21 Biddington Way, Honiton, Devon, EX14 2GU.

Included in the price of the ticket is a free light buffet, but we would also encourage people to bring their own picnic hampers (perhaps with a bottle or two!), to help make the evening a true celebration. You may also wish to bring your own flag, blanket or chair, and of course an enthusiastic singing voice so you can join in with those patriotic classics, such as Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia.

There will be a raffle on the night, with prizes donated by local businesses, including Ł50 of Fields’ vouchers and Dinner for 2 at the Belmont Hotel in Sidmouth. Our thanks go to those companies who have so far supported us in this event.

Those of you who have attended one of our summer concerts this year will have recognized our newest recruit: bass trombonist Joel Stephano. Joel has recently been promoted from the youth to the senior band, and we are delighted to see such progress in a young player.

We would like to thank Karen Summers and Jan Dimond for organizing such an enjoyable quiz night. Even though the questions were far too difficult for my team, the evening was a great success, and has helped make over Ł150 for band funds.

There is still a long way to go to reach our target of Ł5000 to get the band to Harrogate, but with the continued support of our audiences and local community, we are sure we can get there and can make Sidmouth proud!

Firstly, apologies for the delay in updating this website. We have been “experiencing some technical difficulties” (the computer crashed), but are back on line now, and will be filling you in on what has been happening during this busy summer season.

Our first ever Last Night of the Proms was certainly a night to remember. July had been one of the hottest and driest months on record, so we assumed we were safe in terms of weather. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case. July 29th saw the end of the heat wave, and the start of some very wet weather. However, our audience were undeterred and simply added umbrellas to their kit-list of flags, picnics and candelabras. We are so grateful to the 500 people who sat through the rain, singing along to the Proms’ favourites, including Land of Hope and Glory, Fantasia on British Seasongs and Jerusalem, even demanding an encore when we were sure they’d just want to go home and dry off! The band played a challenging programme, performing classics such as Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Nimrod, and the band’s soloists – Christine Sweetapple on soprano, Anna Dimond on flugel and Adrian Harvey on the posthorn – were outstanding. A highlight of the evening was guest soloist, Val Howels, who not only sang beautifully but also looked amazing in her Britannia costume! Compere Wally Cotgrave kept the evening running smoothly, even when the rain caused a temporary black-out on stage, and this was undoubtedly one of the band’s most memorable concerts. We would like to thank the Lions Club for their support with the event and all the local businesses who generously donated raffle prizes. The evening has contributed significantly to our Harrogate fund, and plans are already underway for a second Last Night of the Proms next year!

There are just two concerts left at the Connaught Gardens this summer, and it has been a successful season for the band. Every Sunday since the end of May, we have played to a large audience, and the support and feedback we receive has been better than ever. CD sales have also been going well this summer – if you don’t have a copy of the latest CD yet contact us and we will be happy to send you one!

When the summer is over, don’t panic – you can still see the band in concert throughout the year. Our engagements list will keep you up-to-date with information about when and where you can hear us. Our next concert will be at the Exmouth Entertainment contest on Saturday September 9th. Join us, and other local bands, for a true brass band festival.

Just a week after the Summer Season ended, the band competed at the Exmouth Entertainment Contest on Saturday 9th September. Because our attention has been focused on the Nationals test piece, we had had little time to rehearse the 25 minute programme, but on stage the band performed well, with adjudicator John Berryman commenting on the excellent dynamics, intonation and balance. Our soloist, Anna Dimond, played particularly well, with the remarks singling out her “lyrical tone”. We were thrilled not only to win the prize for the Best Fourth Section Band, but also to come 4th overall out of 10 bands, some who are in higher sections than us.

The only sad note of the day was the news that Bill Woods is retiring from the band. His gentle nature and unfailing humour will be much missed, and we wish him every happiness in the future.

Our joint production of “Brassed Off” with the Sidmouth Amateur Dramatics Society runs from Tuesday 17th October to Saturday 21st October (with a matinee on the Saturday afternoon). Tickets are on sale from the Manor Pavilion box office (01395 514413), and are already selling quickly.

With less than 2 weeks to go until Harrogate, we are now focusing all of our attention on the test piece, “Valerius Variations”. If you would like to hear this music, and see the work that goes into preparing a test piece, come to the Knowle Council Chambers this Friday (15th October) at 8 pm for an Open Rehearsal (free admission).
A full report of the Nationals, including a diary and photos, will appear at the end of September.

2006 is nearly over, and what a year it has been for the Sidmouth Town Band. So busy, in fact, that we haven’t even had a chance to update this website since our return from Harrogate. So here’s a brief round-up of events:

After weeks of hectic – and often stressful – rehearsals, everything came together in the end. Performing to a sell-out audience all week, the band did themselves proud; combining their musical talents with the acting abilities of the Sidmouth Amateur Dramatics Society to create a moving and memorable performance that everyone enjoyed – and are still talking about today. It was extremely nerve-wracking, as many of the players had never done anything like this before, and thanks must go in particular to Tom Clemo, who made sure we were all in the right place at the right time! Certain lines from the play still make us laugh (just mention the snooker scene to Harold and you’ll understand) and it was certainly entertaining seeing how many extra lines Christopher could get in each night. Adrian took over as principal cornet for the week, and managed to keep a straight face brilliantly, despite doing his best to ensure that no-one else could (particularly in the Albert Hall scene I seem to remember). Anna’s rendition of “Jerusalem” was extremely moving, and as for Harold’s voting in the infamous “ballot box” scene… well, he clearly has a talent that’s been hidden away for far too long! The band would like to thank everyone who was involved in this production for their hard work and dedication: we were all proud to be a part of it.

After a “week-off” – yes, really – it was back to work with the annual Remembrance service and parade in Sidmouth. Unfortunately, we were not able to compete at the SWBBA Championships in Torquay this year, as our commitment to “Brassed Off” meant we did not have time to rehearse the test piece, and so this gave us the opportunity to focus on… Christmas music. Yes everyone’s favourite, with sleigh bells, sleigh bells and yet more sleigh bells seemingly appearing in every piece. Roll on December…

Our festive season kicked off with our annual joint concert with the Exeter Police and Community Choir. Held in the Great Hall at Exeter University, with a fabulous audience and location, this is one of the band’s favourite concerts of the year. Proceeds from this concert went to the West of England School for Children with Little or No Sight, the Lions’ Club charity for this year. The band had been working on some new pieces, including the wonderful arrangement, “Rudolph Around the World”, in which the well-know tune of “Rudolph” is cleverly mixed with tunes from the countries he visits (including Schneewaltzer, The Volga Boatmen, Old Comrades and America The Beautiful). The two soloists – Fiona Bell and Verity Baker – received tremendous ovations, and the audience clearly enjoyed the band’s whole performance: we certainly enjoyed the playing!
Then came our own Christmas concert, and a big well-done must go to our newly-formed Beginners Band. They performed in public for the first time, and if they keep up the good work, we could see many of them in the Senior Band in the future. Congratulations must also go to Christine Sweetapple, who won the President’s Cup for her outstanding commitment, attitude and playing, and to Martin Cordy, who, much to his surprise, won the Michael Parker award for the Most Improved Player – thoroughly deserved, and well done to you both! During the evening we also made a presentation to Bill Woods, who was speechless (well, for a little while anyway!) after receiving his own miniature version of “Cherry Pink and Apple-Blossom White”. Bill retired from playing a few months ago, but he has promised to return again next Christmas to perform his inimitable “Neighhhh” in Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”.
So whilst we spend the rest of the year playing Christmas Carols and eating mince pies, may we take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the Sidmouth Town Band in 2006. Many have travelled miles to hear us play, whilst other show their support week in, week out, whatever the weather. The Sidmouth Town Council also continue to support our work, and many of them are regular visitors to our concerts.
We are lucky to have such generous and committed supporters – without you, we would not have achieved the successes of 2006. Thank you to you all.
Merry Christmas, and here’s to an even better 2007!