Issue 35 - Spring 2002
In
this issue
Le BB en Europe!
Editorial
Frederick T Mansfield MBE
Cosford Training weekend
Contest News
Website update
Naturally Brass
Bands in the Press
Your
contributions are needed!
Who are we?
On
January 1 2002, many countries throughout Europe adopted the Euro as their
national currency. Prior to this, in the summer of 2001, members of the London
Central Brass Band and the London Bugle Band went on a whistle-stop tour of
Belgium and France. Pam Morris, member of the London Central Band and the 2nd
Leyton GB Company gives her account of a memorable tour.
On
4th May 2001, London Central Band started out on a weekend of music in France
and Belgium. Unfortunately this had to start at 5.30 in the morning.
A
few hours later (when we were more awake) we met up with the London Bugle Band
to catch ’Le Shuttle’ to start the tour. Early afternoon and 3 coaches
(around 150 people) arrived in the Belgian town of Ypres. Here we were given
about an hour to explore the town and its many chocolate shops!
The
group was then split so we could go and visit some of the many war memorials. It
was then back to Ypres to have dinner and prepare for the performance which was
to take place under the Menin Gate. The town’s firemen have played the Last
Post here at 8pm every night since the end of the war, so everything had to be
done on time. After the service the bands marched back to the coaches where we
were taken to our hotels. No-one wanted to sleep despite the early morning start
[isn’t it strange how that appears to crop up in nearly every band report?!?]
Wake
up calls were at 7 am and after breakfast, it was time to pack bags and load the
coaches, still having enough time for a couple of games of pool before we left.
We
visited four more war memorials including a site where some old Boys’ Brigade
officers had fought. Here we had a short prayer and laid a wreath while the
buglers sounded the last post. It was then on to McDonalds for lunch.
The
coaches then took is to Albert where we were due to give a performance in the
town square, only when we got there it was market day! Instead we ended up
playing across the road. This was a showcase performance where we were joined by
the Somme Pipe Band. The brass band ended their performance with ‘Bugle
Command’ (complete with bugles!) and Sunset. A prayer was said in English, and
repeated in French.
We
were then invited to the Town Hall for refreshments and a presentation by the
mayor. The rooms are only normally used for special occasions and are very
lavishly decorated and everyone felt a bit out of place. Photos were taken of
the whole group on the town hall steps before we boarded the coaches for our
journey to Paris.
At
our hotel in Paris, members were split into rooms over 10 floors so we had
plenty of opportunity to make new friends from different bands. It was off to
McDonalds once again for tea, not that the band members minded! To get there, we
had to travel on the Metro which was cool. I will always remember the version of
Bohemian Rhapsody that was sung in McDonalds—too loud and tone deaf!
Sunday
morning and we were off to Disneyland Paris. This was the part that everyone was
looking forward to! We were taken backstage straight away and given instructions
where to meet to get ready for the parade. We were then let loose on the park
with just enough time for lunch and to do some shopping.
Backstage,
we formed up for our parade through Disneyland. Eventually we made our way to
the starting position where we could hear ourselves being announced to the
public. We stopped to play in front of Winnie the Pooh’s stage before changing
formation and continuing on down Main Street USA and out to backstage again.
After being given meal tokens and fast track tickets (to let us take short cuts
in the queues) we were let loose on the park again. Space Mountain here we come!
Everybody had fun including all the big kids. We went back to the hotel
completely exhausted and broke after all the shopping. No one wanted to sleep as
it was the last night but after a fun evening with friends everyone went to bed.
Monday
morning and we had been asked to wear uniforms to breakfast. By the way some
were worn you could tell who had only just got up! We were then taken into
central Paris and prepared for our last performance—at the Eiffel Tower!
We
started our performance of Mechanised Infantry with the bugles, only to be told
that the people who had come to see us were at the other end of the park! This
was soon corrected and we performed again. This was an opportunity that
doesn’t happen often.
We
then had some more free time and most headed straight for the tower. The queues
were unfortunately too long for any of us to go up so we settled for an ice
cream and statues of the tower.
Back
to the coaches where we headed for Calais to catch the Shuttle back home. One of
the coaches managed to get an earlier train so we couldn’t say goodbye.
Overall,
the weekend was very enjoyable and has been a fantastic experience. Many made
new friends and enjoyed this new experience. Thank you to all those involved in
organising this weekend.
In
my last editorial note, you may remember me writing about 2001 was going to be
‘one of those years’ - well it was!
I
lost count the number of Saturday mornings I had to get up in the middle of the
night to get to various practices and then recording sessions. These all took
place after my own band’s busy summer schedule playing at numerous events in
the local area. A lot of work goes into organising and ensuring the smooth
running of these events, quite often behind the scenes. So, next time you think
of your nice warm bed at some unearthly hour on a Saturday morning, think of all
the others who may have spent many more Saturdays (and other days) preparing for
these events, and those who have to drive the length and breadth of the county.
A brass band needs it’s players, but certainly needs the behind the scenes men
just as much.
Frederick
T Mansfield MBE
5 February 1908 – 23 August 2001
Sadly,
another of our members has passed away. David Greatorex shares a personal
reflection on the life of Fred Mansfield.
I
was on holiday in Austria when my son, Stephen, telephoned to tell me that Fred
Mansfield had died. There was space and time in the mountains to think about
him, and his family, and to say ‘thank you’ for having had the privilege of
knowing him over some 50 years.
I
first came to know ‘Mr. M’ as he was affectionately known at Ashbourne Road
Congregational Church in Derby. He, like my father, was one of those people we
called deacons – also, amongst other things, he was Captain of 21st Derby
Company of The Boys’ Brigade.
At
the age of 8 I joined The Life Boys, but in those days the younger Boys rarely
saw or met with the older boys, but I do recall the regular BB Captain’s
visits to see us. On joining the Company at the age of 12 I first really became
‘under the influence’ of who, to me and I am sure many others, was a truly
great man, but not in any way to get self-glory rather always working quietly
and effectively for others.
Mr.
M was a very talented musician and I, along with six other Boys, soon was
helping him restart a brass band in the Company. We had some very battered old
instruments but he worked wonders with us in getting some good sounds. Others
joined us and, even though I say it my self, we were quite good! I will never
forget seeing Mr. M arriving at band practices, and even some events, with his B
flat bass in a rucksack on his back and riding his bike!!
If
it had not been for a conversation with Mr. M at the time I was doing my GCE
examinations I certainly would not have stayed in the band, and maybe not even
the BB. I was struggling with schoolwork and all the other things going off at
Church at the time. I cannot remember the exact words he used but he helped me
through that difficult time. Little would he and I know at that time that some
10 years later I would follow him into the role of a BB Captain.
I
have much to be grateful for to Mr. M, and I echo the words of Henry Smith at
Mr. M’s funeral service when he likened him to a father figure to us all. Band
members were joined by colleagues from Nottingham to play at Mr. M’s funeral
– a service of Praise and Thanksgiving for his life which was held on 31
August 2001. The service was attended many old Brigade Boys and a guard of
honour was formed by them and current members of the Company.
Some
personal details about Fred Mansfield
Joined the BB, as an officer at the age of 19.
Attended 50 year and 100 year celebrations of BB in Glasgow.
Founder Captain of 21st Derby BB in 1942 and was instrumental in the setting up of 5th and 3rd Derby Companies.
Awarded MBE for services to the Brigade in 1977.
Started a marching band in 1945 and restarted it as a brass band in 1962.
The band still goes on today, but with only a few players now.
His dedication to music lead him to discussions with David Carter about the forming of a Brass Band Contest for the Brigade, which led to the formation of the National Brass Band Association as we know it today.
National
Band Training Weekend 2001
Another
successful training weekend was held at RAF Cosford over the May Bank Holiday
weekend 2001. Two members of the 1st Mirfield Band tell us about their first
time at an Association event.
The
1st Mirfield Boys Brigade Company went to RAF Cosford for a Band
Training weekend on the 4–7 May. We arrived at our church on the Friday
evening where we had a game of football with the young people from the Youth
Club who were meeting there. The next day we went to the RAF base at Cosford and
had our breakfast in the mess hall. We then went down to the sports hall to have
our morning worship and be put into our groups for the weekend. I was put in
group 2 and played first second and third cornet. We played Caribbean Holiday
and the theme tune from Beauty and the Beast and many more. I enjoyed playing
these because they were exciting and quite challenging.
At
the end of hard days instrument playing we let off steam by activities like
bowling and swimming. We also played football and badminton.
On
the final day we played all the music we had been rehearsing for the other two
bands and percussion group. They also played their pieces for us.
All
in all I thought it was a really fun and exciting weekend and if there’s
another one I will definitely go.
Jack
Bedford
When
we got to our church me and my friend Andy played pool and we then got ready for
bed. The next morning we had to get up at 7.15 to arrive at RAF Cosford for
breakfast at 8.00. This was well worth it though because we had a full English
breakfast with all the trimmings including Marmite. We then walked to the gym
and we were put into our music groups. I was in percussion group one because
there was only one percussion group. I learnt a lot about playing the drum even
how to hold my sticks correctly. We learnt how to do paradiddles and open and
closed roles. At night we did various activities like swimming, badminton,
bowling, short tennis and football. I liked playing badminton best because I
beat my dad.
The
next day we had an instructor from the Marines he taught me how to play Anchors
Aweigh on the snare drum. Later that day we formed a huge band with the other
bands and played Anchors Aweigh whilst marching up and down the hall. I thought
this was really good because I carried my drum around my waist so it didn’t
hurt and I was able to take part in something that I haven’t done before.
In
the evening we went to the Spar store on the camp to get some snacks for a feast
later on that night.
The
next day we performed in front of the other bands and I was a bit nervous but I
managed to play it right and I enjoyed this.
Katie
Bedford
At
Cosford, some formation marching was done. Nothing difficult — just follow the
player in front. That was until it came to a right wheel. The drum major and
percussion did the right wheel, but the rest of the band ‘forgot’. Was this
the work of one of the junior band? No! It was the staff band David Carter
mentions on the opposite page! The move was salvaged however by the drum major
[that was me! - Ed] doing a few more wheels so the drum section was marching
directly facing the rest of the band!
A
quick counter march and everything was back on course. So then, if you ever make
a wrong move on a parade, ask if your band leader was in that staff band!
David
Carter, Association Secretary writes:
The
2001 Training Weekend followed the same format as our first, very successful,
1999 training weekend at RAF Cosford, and attracted almost 120 participants to
enjoy a great weekend of music making.
Many
arrived on Friday evening, 4 May at their host churches in the area and
travelled to RAF Cosford, bright and early, on the Saturday morning for
breakfast where they joined all those travelling direct.
Two
music training bands were formed, according to players’ abilities, along with
a small group of beginners. There was also a percussionist's group. Brass
instructors, Iain McIntyre, Nick Dunn and Wesley Nicklin put the two bands
through their paces throughout the weekend whilst Doncaster bandmaster, Ted
Needham, worked hard with the beginners. The percussionists received training
from Mark Day and Andy Upton and, on Sunday, were under the watchful eye of Cpl
Bugler Andy Cornish, an instructor from the Royal Marines School of Music.
Additionally, during the weekend, David Carter and Ian Caldwell ran sessions on
arranging music for brass bands. David also took a session on conducting, after
which, a few participants were let loose conducting the bands!
On
Saturday evening the entire group took over RAF Cosford's ten-pin bowling alley
and on Sunday evening, RAF PTI, Sgt Taff Davis, kept swimmers entertained [or in
the case of officers, replace ‘entertained’ with ‘exhausted’!] in the
base's full size pool. Other sporting activities were available.
On
Sunday evening, a 30-strong marching staff band performed some rather 'rusty'
formation manoeuvres to the annoyance of those trying to have a game of football
in the same gymnasium!!
The
weekend culminated in a mini-concert at which each band and the beginner's group
performed to each other, followed by the massed bands 'lifting the roof' with
Anchors Aweigh!
We
are most grateful to Gp Capt L J Burrell, BEng, CEng, MRAeS, RAF, for giving us
permission to use the extensive facilities at RAF Cosford, and we were delighted
that he and his wife were able to spend time with us on the Saturday. Our thanks
also go to Fg Off Chris Skaife for making all the arrangements for our visit.
Editor’s
note: On behalf of all the attendees at Cosford, I would like to thank David
Carter and John McIntyre for spending many hours organising the weekend, and the
other staff for their hard work before and during the weekend.
It
may seem like a fair while since the last Contest, held at Hall Cross School,
Doncaster on 17 March 2001, but the results are shown below as a record of the
event
Small
Band Class Hymn Tune
3rd place: 2nd Eastleigh BB/GB
2nd place: Chandlers Ford BB
Winner: 32nd Nottingham BB/ 1st Nuthall GB
Small
Band Class Main Programme
3rd place: 32nd Nottingham BB/ 1st Nuthall GB
2nd place: 2nd Eastleigh BB/GB
Winner: Chandlers Ford BB
Best
Soloist (from both classes)
3rd place: Ian Roberts, Priory (7th Doncaster) BB
2nd place: Luke Wood, Chandlers Ford BB
Winner: Owen Lewis, North Midland District BB/GB
Open
Class Hymn Tune
3rd place Chandlers Ford BB
2nd place: London Central BB/GB
Winner: North Midland District BB/GB
Open
Class Test Piece
3rd place London Central BB/GB
2nd place: North Midland District BB/GB
Winner: Chandlers Ford BB
Open
Class Main Programme
3rd place: 2nd Eastleigh BB/GB
2nd place: Chandlers Ford BB
Winner: London Central BB/GB
Contest
2002 & 2003
Unfortunately,
the 2002 Contest, due to be held at Eastleigh on 16 March 2002 has had to be
cancelled due to a lack of bands taking part, however the 2003 Contest is
already in the planning stages. The location has not yet been decided, but will
be on 15 March 2003 and the test piece will be Soldier’s Song — mark it in
your diaries now!
One
feature of the Contest weekend that was planned was the Gala Concert, to be held
on the evening of 16 March — this is still going ahead, and is now open to any
player in the Association. Around half of the band will be made up of the
players who recorded the CD in November 2001 in Doncaster, so this promises to
be a concert to remember. As well as an entertaining evening, the concert will
also be used to officially launch the Association CD, ‘Naturally Brass’.
For
more information on the CD, please see below.
For
up to date information about us, visit the Association’s website at http://natbrass.boys-brigade.org.uk.
Here you can find up to date information about what is going on in the
Association, and also a growing photo gallery.
A
number of bands have developed their own websites and links can be found to them
from the main Association site, or by going to http://www.prioryband.co.uk
for the 7th Doncaster’s website or to http://1chandlersford.boys-brigade.org.uk/
for Chandlers Ford Band’s site.
If
your band has a website then let either the NatBrass News Editor or the
Association Secretary know and it will be included on the website and may even
get a review in NatBrass News!
‘Naturally
Brass’ is the title of the CD which has just been released by the Boys Brigade
National Brass Band.
The
band, made up of a wide age range of players from a number of brass bands
throughout the UK, travelled to a number of rehearsals in the in the Midlands
area, followed by a weekend recording session in Doncaster on 3 & 4 November
2002.
After
all the hard work at both the combined practices, and also at members’ own
band practices, the end result is a quality CD featuring a wide range of music.
If
you wish to purchase a copy, then please contact the leader of your local
Association brass band, or contact the Association Secretary – details can be
found by clicking here.
Tracks
featured
Concert Tune
Be Still for the presence of the Lord
Slaidburn
When you Believe
The Happy Bandleader
Highland Cathedral
Cavalry of the Steppes
Jesus is Lord
Trumpet Voluntary
High Spirits
Theme from Anna Magdelana’s Song
Lichfield
Soldier's Song
Anchors Aweigh
Tochter Zion
Theme from Beauty and the Beast
Antonin's New World
Evening Song
True & Trusty
It
is a sad fact that much of what we read in the press is not good or happy news.
It is also rare to see young people portrayed in a positive way so here at
NatBrass News, we would be delighted to receive and newspaper cuttings of
articles or photographs featuring Boys’ Brigade brass bands. After speaking to
a local journalist, he told NatBrass News that one of the reasons so few stories
are published is because they simply do not know about them. At last year’s
Contest in Doncaster, all the local newspapers were invited and your Editor was
asked to pose for photographs on the stage with the band and these were duly
published the following week. A number of other articles also appeared in other
local newspapers (this time not featuring photos of your Ed!) and this brought
both great publicity but also showed that young people can do good in the local
community.
So,
to get great, free publicity for your band, contact your local newspapers and
try and get a contact on the news desk. When you have this contact, inform them
of all your events in advance and as well as possibly appearing in ‘What's
On’ type sections, you may get photos published of your band.
As
a guide to what can be done, a few years ago, the 7th Doncaster Band appeared on
the front page of a local newspaper — leading Doncaster Scouts’ St Georges
Day Parade!
Your
contributions are needed!
We
still urgently need contributors and photos for NatBrass News. It is our aim to
have at least one contact in each band who can contribute one item every other
issue. You don’t have to write it yourself, just send it in!
If
your band hasn’t got a contributor and would like to volunteer, drop me a line
or email to the address below. We need you!!!!
NatBrass
News is the official newsletter of the Boys’ Brigade National Brass Band
Association and is published twice a year.
Editor
: Lee Barrass
email : natbrass@boys-brigade.org.uk
12 May Avenue, Doncaster, DN4 9AE.
Telephone : 01302 570037
Fax: 0870 1314886.
Secretary
: David Carter
email : natbrass.dc@boys-brigade.org.uk
61 Stoke Heights, Fair Oak, Eastleigh, Hants, SO50 8AH
Telephone : 023 8069 4646.