15.12.07 - Even more new players.

As promised (see news story below), we have three new players to introduce. 

They are Ben Curtis, who joins on 2nd cornet, Bob Snellgrove who comes in on 3rd cornet and lastly, (but by no means least-ly) Alison Copson on percussion.

Full 'biogs' will appear, as soon as they are available on the 'Who's Who' page.

30.11.07 - John becomes a dad.

The Windmill Band is pleased to announce that M.D. John and his partner Kim have become the proud parents to Michael James, born on the 27th November and weighing 7lbs 3oz. 

What a way to round of November; 2 contest wins and a baby - CONGRATULATIONS!

30.11.07 - We win at the Leicester AND Leamington Spa contests.

Wow - a rather successful end to the year with 2 wins over successive weekends!

First we traveled to Wigston on the 18th November to take part In the Leicester Brass Band Association contest held at Guthlaxton College. Performing Aeronauts by Goff Richards, in the 3rd section and judged by Steve Pritchard-Jones, we achieved 1st place and 184 points. Then.....

....on the 25th November we took part in the North East Midlands Brass Band Association's Contest in Leamington Spa. Again, in the 3rd section performing Aeronauts and judged by David Horsfield, we achieved 'top-spot' with 180 points. 

What a way to welcome our new members and a very pleasing start for M.D. John Fletcher. However, we are pleased to acknowledge that our previous M.D. Richard Graves had a hand in the proceedings too! Following our previous 'Sop's' departure (Julia Crask to the City of Cambridge Band), Richard helped us out on the Soprano cornet seat - to great effect as it turned out!

Hopefully all this bodes well for the future - and in saying that I mean the 'Areas' next March!

Anyway for a few photo's of both contests please go to the 'Archive pictures' pages.

01.10.07 - Web site 'Back-on'!

My sincere apologies, owing to monetary AND technical problems, our web site has been 'off-air' for a wee while. But, as you can see, all is well again and the site should be updated fairly shortly to reflect recent changes in personnel...amongst other things!!! 

As they say....

...Watch this Space!

20.07.07 - M.D.'s arrival!

As one door closes...another opens...so in another Official statement the Rushden Windmill Band wish to announce that John Fletcher (pictured left) has been appointed as our new Musical Director.

John was formerly the M.D. of Raunds Temperance Band, and not only do we welcome him into the fold, but we look forward to a long and successful association with him.

A slightly more detailed 'blog' appears on the 'Who's Who' page.

12.06.07 - Our M.D.'s departure.

In an Official statement the Rushden Windmill Band wish to announce that after 8 memorable years of service, the band and their MD, Richard Graves, have parted company.

During his period of leadership the band gained promotion from the fourth to third section and had numerous contest successes - not least becoming Midlands Area 4th section Champions in 2004 and qualifying for the finals.

There were also many wonderful concerts including several with the late Don Lusher and most recently the taking part in the inaugural Malcolm Arnold Festival in October last year (2006). These were In addition to the local events that the band took part in

Obviously, the band, wish Richard every happiness and success for the future.

07.04.07 - 'Bernard calls it a day'.

I am very sorry to report that long-serving BBb Bass player, Bernard Hanson, has decided to retire from playing completely.

Bernard (pictured left) stopped 'contesting' last year, but has now decided that he will stop playing altogether, mainly to spend more time at home.

Bernard has been in the band for about 20 years and has served on the committee - most recently as 'band-master'.

I am sure that the band will, suitably, mark this occasion and we all wish Bernard 'every health and happiness' in the future.

Hopefully, I will find out a bit more about Bernard's 'playing life' - 'watch this space'!

...And in our annual 'transfer window' (!) there have been other 'movements' within the band:

Debbie Beech and Martin Dummer have done a straight swap - Martin becomes Solo Horn and Debbie 1st Horn. Roger Malivoire, who has been having 'ear trouble' is to 'have-a-go' on BBb Bass - to see if things settle down. This means that Bill Coyne has the 1st Baritone position - permanently!

And finally we welcome back Eddie 'We Love You' Halcrow. Eddie (former Euphonium player) actually came back last year as a 'stop gap' to boost the back row cornets. However, since then he has taken up the trumpet and will, therefore, remain on cornet for the time being!

18.03.07 - What our esteemed M.D. got up to (yesterday) in Stevenage!

Well, Richard fared a lot better than we did at Burton last week. Richard played Soprano (on ONLY 4 rehearsals!) with Bedford Town Band (Conducted by John Berryman) at the London and Southern Counties 'Area' in Stevenage.

Playing 'The Wayfarer' by Eric Ball off a No. 7 draw - the band came 3rd - though, sadly, not a qualification spot.

Former Welwyn Garden City Band 'Sop' player, Derek Glendinning, is taking over the chair - we say he has a lot to live up to!

Well done Richard - there's life in the old bugger yet!.

16.03.07 - 'Maybe it is worth it ...after all!' Redemption and vindication for the band! After last week's 'area' result, which left us all feeling very low and wondering why we actually bother to take part at all, there comes salvation from the web pages of '4Barsrest'. Part of their 'retrospective' report on the Midlands 'area' (3rd section) reads:

'Another surprise result for us was the 10th place given to Rushden Windmill Band under their conductor Richard Graves.  Some fine playing in the opening from soprano and horn gave the band a confident start and expressive playing throughout from the euphoniums and baritones, and some class playing from the solo cornet followed this.  Perhaps it was the occasional split note and the fact that the band took time to adjust to the tempo changes that cost them, but 10th seemed a little unjust and we felt a higher placing was deserved.' As written by Alun Perry and courtesy of the '4Barsrest' web site.

OK, so it's not an all out 'they (the adjudicators) were wrong', because they wouldn't. BUT it's probably about as close as we'll get and makes me feel a whole lot better - as I was starting to have my doubts. AND maybe, just maybe, I'll put myself through it all again next year!

11.03.07 - 'Disappointing Area' result! After all the 'trials and tribulations'/'highs and lows' we've undergone over the last few weeks - our '10th' at yesterdays 'area' was something of an anticlimax!...

Sadly, Sally Kneale's mum passed away and Sally was unable to take part in the contest - naturally our thoughts are with Sally and the Kneale family at this very sad time. Last week, Ian Williams had a car accident - though, thankfully, he was OK (even if his car wasn't!) and he was able to make the following rehearsal. Then, finally, Jeremy's mum was taken ill and, although he missed a couple of rehearsals, made it on the day.

Our rehearsal with Lyn Morgan (former MD of the Luton Band and experienced adjudicator) on the 4th March (see also our 'archive pictures') was good fun and we learnt loads and Lyn gave a 'fresh' view on our performances.

On contest day we left Rushden at 6.15 am for a 9 o'clock rehearsal in Burton-on-Trent - arriving at the Belvedere Club at 11am. The contest venue is still filthy and, thankfully, this is the final year that the 'area' will be held there. We were drawn 15th out of 16 and despite a lot of 'hanging around' eventually went on stage about 3.15 pm. The opening notes (muted horn and soprano) were perfect (and confident) and the performance went from strength to strength. Our tempi were as stated on the score (other bands played things a lot slower and were in the frame!), and there was definite 'light & shade'. We all came off stage in a buoyant mood - confident that, at the very least, we would improve on last year's 8th placing and hoping for a 'frame' position.

The adjudicators (David Horsfield and Steve Pritchard-Jones - in post contest speeches) stated that they were looking for an 'ensemble' performance and that the odd tuning/'split' note weren't important! Our remarks did not seem to bear any relation to our actual performance and weren't very helpful to improve a future performance. It was noted that the bands who qualified were either very loud, under tempo OR both. The contest draw is divided into two - whether this had any bearing on the final result - I don't know. The band is left wondering what do you have to actually do to win a contest?

Currently, the Brass Band movement is concerned that there is an increasing decline in players - with a number of bands forced to withdraw from 'area' contests (potentially the most important contest of the year). An inconsistent adjudication and result that like the one that we experienced yesterday will do nothing to reverse this decline.

N.B. These comments are personal and DO NOT necessarily reflect the views of the Rushden Windmill Band, it's members, committee and/or M.D.

18.02.07 - Computer Breakdown! Unfortunately, Martin's computer had the electronic equivalent of a nervous breakdown and 'crashed' over the weekend.

He has had to install a new hard drive - BUT as a result, he has lost ALL his contact details. Therefore, he is asking ANYONE who has contacted him at any time in the past to do so again - so he can rebuild his list. Please use the email address below:

martin@dummermk.freeserve.co.uk.

01.01.07 - Happy New Year One And All - Seasons greetings to ALL Band members and readers of these random rantings (sometimes called web pages!) Here's to a successful year!

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For 'Archived' news stories select a year: (2004) (2005) (2006).