Sponsored by The Bell Inn, Watchet

2011 News

St Renan Visit

There were eight WSB members plus eight guest players who all returned safely from their French trip to Watchet's French twin town of St. Renan in Brittany. In the time honoured words of all reports of such events "A good time was had by all". The first concert was at the retirement home where Anna played Grandfather's Clock accompanied by the Band and an out-of-time 'clapper'.

The next two mini concerts concluded the Band's musical part of the visit and took place at venues in the famous market place. Before, between and after these concerts, there was a visit to the Oceanopolis (a spectacular marine life display) and many hosted eating events, including a beach picnic and a game of sort of rounders, with local musical accompaniments and some sponateous vocal contributions from both the French and English.

A CD disc is available for circulation for those who went and for those who might like a flavour of what these visits entail

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the West Somerset Brass Band took place on Friday 25th February at the Methodist Schoolroom, Watchet.

Quiz night at The Bell Inn on February 15th

Many thanks to everyone who supported the quiz night at The Bell Inn on February 15th. A great time was had by all and an impressive £140 was raised for the band. Special thanks to President, sponsor and Bell landlord Paul Taplin, and our excellent quiz master and vice president Chris Seyforth. Pictured with Paul on the left and Chris on the right is the winning team, The Camberwell Beauties, who scored an impressive 74 points out of 90.

2010 News

2010 Review

The season kicked off in fine style at the end of April when the band played at the wedding of the bands Principal cornet player Niall and Flugel horn player Jodie at a sun drenched Dunster Castle. Many thanks to all our friends from other bands who came down to play on the day.

The summer season started at Dunster Festival at the end of May with the debut of many new pieces for the band including the main theme from the film ‘Gladiator’ and Russian folk dance ‘Kalinka’. The season progressed well through sunny June and July with regular free concerts on Watchet Esplanade, important community events such as Roadwater Fete, The Watchet Phoenix Centre sing along train journey and Nether Stowey Ladies Walk, now in its 202^nd year (some of the our current players can remember playing at the first!).

Our training band leader, Kath Mann also did a fine job all summer of organising and running the bands ‘Give It A Go’ stand at Knights Templar School Fayre, Watchet Carnival and Watchet Music Festival. This gave an opportunity for budding musicians to try all of the instruments that we play in the band. As a direct result the members of the training group has risen to an impressive 20!

August was the bands busiest month playing at Fivehead Fete, Porlock Country Fayre and Blenheim Gardens Music Festival, Minehead. The annual Bicknoller Garden Party was held on the August bank holiday, this year celebrating its 21^st anniversary. The band performed again as we have every year since it started. A huge congratulations must go to Bill and Maggie Pumphrey and everyone else involved in the event in raising over £30,000 for McMillan Cancer Support in this time. The band are honoured and privileged to associated with this very important organisation.

The final concert of the summer was at the end of September playing at a cold but sunny Vivary Park, Taunton for the Bandstand Marathon. An event organised by Superact! counting down to the 2012 London Olympics Games.

One of the most important engagements we play at every year is the Remembrance day events in Watchet at the start of November. Well done to solo cornet player Claire Whitworth for her note perfect Last Post and Reveille.

DECK THE HALLS WITH COUGHING BODIES

TRA LA LA LA LAAA LA LA LA LAA!

The Christmas season kicked off for us in November at Brushford (near Dulverton) for their Christmas fair. A good turn out by the band at this Exmoor event (with only one member on holiday and one being operated on); ensured a gentle ease into the Christmas programme and lots of homemade biscuits being sampled by a certain two people…..

  The first Friday and Saturday of December is always the Dunster-by-Candlelight event. By then, the snow had gone and quite a bit of rain fell this year, (fortunately we chose the Saturday to play which was the dry night of the two sessions). Thank you to the guest players who also came along to play with us.

  The following day we played a very formal indoor Christmas concert in Williton, in aid of McMillan cancer support, which the Coleridge committee had organised. With some very carefully executed playing, the band concentrated hard, gave a very good performance of a variety of pieces, Christmas arrangements and Carols which was well received by the audience; whose participation was also enjoyed by the band. Well done to the hand-bell ringers who rang the audience in so admirably, starting the afternoon off and also to the hard workers who served such lovely refreshments, we were all looked after very nicely.

Two days later a selection of the band was back at the same venue (with coughs and colds) on a more informal basis, playing Christmas Carols at the Danesfield School Christmas Fayre. Well done to the certain member of our training band who made her debut session playing out in public!

  On Friday 10^th December much depleted in numbers (mainly due to illness), we played Carols for the first time at the Porlock Weir Late Night Shopping event; where we were served gorgeous bacon sandwiches, which were much appreciated in the cold weather (especially by one player who ate so many he was still full the next day.…).

The next day we played nicely (and coughed and spluttered a little less nicely) at a formal concert, with pieces of varying lengths and styles and Carols which the audience joined in with, in Kilve village hall. Also taking turns with us to perform were the children from East Quantoxhead and surrounding villages who sang with great enthusiasm and animation they had prepared themselves very well with percussion and donkey props too! At half time we were fed a lovely selection of food and given mulled wine tea and coffee to soothe our coughs and ease our thirst from playing. A happy concert was performed well by all who took part. The evening saw the dregs of us (that were still healthy enough) staggering along to the Porlock Late Night Shopping event where we heroically carolled our way up and down the main street in the cold for a couple of hours!

As December galloped along, the bitter chill got worse, the numbers of band members with flu and chest infections increased, but also, on a more positive note, the number of debut sessions for training band members also increased. The West Somerset Railway Carol train on Wednesday 15^th December was a 1^st playing in public occasion for at least 3 members of the training band and once again a big congratulations to them all for their hard work, perseverance and courage. Starting at Minehead, we played carols on the station platform clambered onto the train and then continued to hop on and off to play carols at every station we stopped at. Those passengers who braved the cold also got off and sang the carols along with our playing with great enthusiasm. This engagement is always an enjoyable evening and thanks also to Watchet station for providing the refreshments.

Two days later we played in the Watchet branch of the Royal British Legion club. Even thinner on the ground by now (due to poor health) it was very fortunate we were playing indoors, as by the end, a blanket of snow had covered everything. Halfway through we were treated to a lovely selection of sandwiches and at the end we were rewarded with two trays of hot mince pies and jugs of cream. For those of us who had to skid home in their cars before the snow got any worse, don’t worry, the rest of us bravely ate your lovely pies…..!

The next day (Saturday 18^th Dec) we anxiously watched the weather forecast, the skies and the roads as the snow had frozen. Fortunately by the evening the main roads were clear and we were able to play a formal indoor concert at the Minehead Royal British Legion Club. Sliding our instruments and equipment along the icy pavement we made it without anybody falling over and made some quite nice sounds too! A couple of us were on the mend, enabling a fuller band and a lovely big tray of sandwiches was prepared for us, which was much appreciated. Driving home, the snow on the fields and surrounding hills reflected prettily in the moonlight, creating a luminous lunar light from the hills to the sea.

It was most important to remember to ration the sandwiches the night before and work up an appetite during Sunday as it was our band Christmas meal for members, WAGS, HABS and children. We had the largest Christmas meal turnout ever, spilling into the next room and a good time with some rather dodgy photos ending up on the band face-book page as a result!

On Wednesday 22^nd December, with the latest huge snowfall (from Monday) being deep and crisp and very Uneven (having frozen and refrozen), those of us that weren’t stranded or ill, skidded and slid our way down to the Bell Inn to play carols. Unfortunately, illness had struck once again taking out some key players, but those of us that did make it heroically ate the hot sausage rolls, chocolate biscuits and drank the hot mulled wine. Many thanks to our President Paul Taplin and all of his staff at the Bell for their hospitality.

 Christmas Eve was the last day of the band Christmas season. The pavements, residential roads and car parks were like ice-rinks and a selection of us (who weren’t at work, stranded or ill) bravely risked life, limbs and instruments to slither along and play Carols on the streets of Watchet. Well done, once again, to a few members of the training band who also played with us.

 The last engagement of the season saw us sliding along to Minehead to play at Butlins in the evening. We played Carols on stage with the Red-coats enticing the audience along with great enthusiasm. Congratulations one and all.

All in all, a pretty good season, sometimes in tricky conditions with lots of enjoyable moments and with some great memories to take away. Thank you to various guest players who helped us out at times and fingers crossed for a healthy happy playing year for 2011.

Quiz Night

Pictured is the winning team from the band’s fundraising quiz night on October 16th. Congratulations to Christine and Kevin who beat a strong field of 14 teams. Many thanks to our quiz master Chris Seyforth who is pictured in the middle with the winning team. £115 was raised on the night, and thanks must also go to George Watson for organising the raffle.
 

PRESS RELEASE

The  following article appeared in the West Somerset Free Press and the Somerset County Gazette on Friday 22nd October.

A £250 donation from the Richard Devitt Trust has enabled the West Somerset Brass Band to invest in its future by buying new training books and music stands for its group of learners.

Training band leader Kath Mann: “We have a good mix of both adults and children learning to play who are all doing really well because of the new books and equipment. There are 4 groups of approximately 5 pupils in each all with different abilities. The two more advanced groups join together at the end of the session so they can play in a larger group with the main band. Some of them are progressing so well that they will be joining the band at some of their Christmas concerts during December. It is never too late in life to learn to play. Our Chairman joined the learners when he was 70 and is now a key member of the band”

The training band meet on Friday evenings from 6.30 – 7.30 at The Methodist Schoolroom, Harbour Road, Watchet and new players are always welcome. Contact Niall Watson on 07814 125945 or visit our website for more details.

BAND WEDDING PICTURES

At last, here are the pictures of Niall and Jodie’s wedding. Click here to view.

PLAYERS WANTED

We have vacancies for Cornet players and a Baritone player, but all other instruments are more than welcome - if you are interested, please contact Niall Watson on 07814 125945.

NEW BAND FACEBOOK PAGE

On the basis of our band motto ‘Not for ourselves alone’, our band Facebook page was launched on Tuesday 1^st June. It is an open group page for a lighthearted approach to West Somerset Brass Band, for members, guest players, friends, family and any fans….!!??

The page is a communal place for any Facebook member to post photos, write wall comments, post funny pictures or cartoons, see forthcoming events, open discussions or get more information. Photographs so far are from numerous social occasions as well as formal events – feel free to tag yourselves into them. By the 2^nd July, we had 59 members from as far away as New Zealand, Manchester, Birmingham, Surrey, and closer to home such as Bristol, Portishead and West Somerset.

The Facebook page contains useful contact information and links back to our band website. To view or join our group page, become a Facebook member, then type West Somerset Brass band into the search box. Our group page should be displayed along with our band logo and emblem.

NEW BAND POSTER

A new poster (see Gallery) and a 2010 engagements list has now been produced for the Band. For copies, please contact Niall Watson.

PRESS RELEASES (West Somerset Free Press and The County Gazette)

WEST SOMERSET BRASS SETS OFF THE SUMMER SEASON (11th June)

The West Somerset Brass Band starts their concert season on Watchet’s Esplanade tonight (Friday) at 7.30pm. The band have been rehearsing hard since the beginning of the year with a whole new selection of music from film & television (Gladiator, Dances With Wolves, Mary Poppins, Last Of The Summer Wine), songs from well known performers like Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston and Boyzone, alongside traditional marches, a bit of jazz, swing and blues! 

The wide variety of music we perform is the basis of the brass bands’ universal appeal. This enables the band to undertake a wide range of engagements that include concerts, fetes and carnivals at many venues around West Somerset and beyond.

NOT TOO YOUNG OR OLD TO LEARN ! One of our band members started to play when he was 70, and our youngest member is 11. We have an active training band and would really welcome you if you want to have a go.

Contact Niall Watson on 07814 125945 or visit website for more details: www.westsomersetbrass.co.uk

AGM Awards

The following article appeared in the Somerset County Gazette on May 28th and the West Somerset Free Press on June 4th:

Sophie wins top award

West Somerset Brass Band has been very busy teaching new pupils in their training band. At the AGM, Musical Director Barry Payne was delighted to award the Roger Paul Trophy for the Most Improved Player to Sophie Holcombe, 14, who has been learning the cornet for only two years and who has now joined the main band.

Sophie says that she loves playing in the band and attends twice weekly practices. She goes out to engagements dressed smartly in her uniform, and enjoys all the different fairs, events and services at which the band plays.

Barry Payne said “Sophie has worked very hard and really deserves this award for all her time and effort. We are really proud of what she has achieved”. Also at the AGM, the Bandsman of the Year Trophy was won by Niall Watson.

2009 News

2009 was a very successful year for the band. It was our first full season with our new name since changing from the Watchet Royal British Legion Band in October 2008 and we were busier and more in demand than ever before. We also recorded our first CD in March, which was made in memory of our long and respected conductor, founder member Rodney Wells. The CD has sold very well, so much so that we are going to get even more produced for 2010!

We performed mainly at local events during the summer including Watchet Carnival, Minehead Music Festival in Blenheim Gardens and we also took part in the  Bandstand Marathon in September, a build up to the 2012 London Olympics. We did travel further afield too, to perform on the North Devon coast at Ilfracombe Bandstand in July, and also made our biennial visit to St Renan in Brittany in September (see photos in the Gallery).

Christmas is always a busy time for any brass band and it was no different for us performing at 17 different venues in December alone! The highlight was the annual Christmas concert for MacMillan Cancer Support at the beginning of the month. A good sprinkling of Dunster by Candlelight, Late Night Shopping events in our home town of Watchet and in Porlock, performing on the West Somerset Railway carol train and finally in the Skyline Pavilion, Butlins, Minehead on Christmas Eve certainly proves we have a wide and diverse selection of engagements.

We enter 2010 busy rehearsing a whole new music programme ready for our new season. Although it is a quiet time regarding engagements as soon as spring starts the band is back on the road again performing at local events right through the summer until late September. Check out our engagements page for a detailed list of summer concerts. Our first engagement in late April sees the band performing for a wedding at Dunster Castle!

2010 will see the band continuing to actively seek new players, young and old to join either our thriving training band or the main band and continue the brass band scene in West Somerset. Visit the contacts page if you are interested in joining the band or booking us for an engagement.

2008 News

Our Festive season kicked off with two charity concerts. The first, a lively event,  was held at Danesfield Middle School in Williton in aid of McMillan Cancer Support. The following weekend we joined forces with Watchet Town Band to play a Christmas programme at Knights Templar First School, in Watchet.

Carol playing then took centre stage for the following week with the band playing at both Watchet & Porlock Late Night Shopping on the same night. On Wednesday 15^th December, the band played on the West Somerset Railway Carol train, where we had to jump on & off of the train at 6 different stations where carols were played and sung on the platforms. Don’t worry, no bandsmen were hurt in the making of this Christmas music.

We finished the season on a high note with 3 successful concerts at the British Legion Club in Watchet, East Quantoxhead Village Hall & finally in the Skyline Pavilion, at Butlins in Minehead on Christmas Eve.

So after dusting the mince pies off our jackets & all on a detox after too much mulled wine, we start the New Year looking forward to making our first CD in March,  and another Charity Concert with the Town Band in April. We then start our busy summer season at Wellington Park on May & which culminates in the band’s biennial trip to France in August………Its good to be busy!

Non Nobis Solum: Not for ourselves alone