BREAKING NEWS: Limited edition Peashooter celebrating our anniversary now available. Click link to download (Band Newsletter (Spring 2017)

Celebration Concert – Click here for a link to our photo album 

On Sat Oct 15 Patcham Silver Band celebrated its 70th Anniversary, with a fine concert and lots of socialising, photos and cakes! Both the Youth Band and the Senior Band did themselves proud while entertaining their audience of families, friends and special guests.

The Bands’ freshly minted CD “Pastures New” was eagerly listened to (and bought) during the run-up to the concert, and a rolling film displayed the Bands at different events during the past few decades. Many photo albums were pored over during refreshments, with lots of oohs and aahs

We were also celebrating the 10th year of our present  MD James Benka-Coker’s reign as Musical Director (Who can forget his own 40th birthday concert at which he played every single instrument?) Chairman (and erstwhile MD) Barbara Deane also praised Sandra Clinton for her inspirational leadership of the Youth Band, and Vicki Windslow celebrated 25 years of playing with the band. Well done, everybody, and many thanks to our guest players who joined in!

A wonderful cake with our logo had been baked by Wendy Hardy and was enjoyed with a glass of fizz, and a smaller white cake had the music of Happy Birthday to You cleverly piped in black icing. A Speed Raffle added to the fun (and funds!) and excitement.

Now to the music: both Bands combined to play Shostakovich’s Festive Overture – an appropriate opener, with both MD’s keeping everyone in time! The Senior Band followed with Four Cities Symphony (one of our test pieces), Deep Harmony, Don’t Stop Me Now (Freddie Mercury) and the audience readily joined in with Amarillo. A Quartet took to the stage to play Don’t Worry, Be Happy while the bands regrouped. The Youth Band then played Colonel Bogey, Happy, The Medallion Calls, Bohemian Rhapsody (their favourite), I vow to Thee my Country and Ghostbusters (with apologies to Rosie…)

After the interval the Youth Band played a transitional piece called A Fairlop Fanfare, before the Senior Band resumed with Share my Yoke, Hey Jude, Pokarekare Ana, Hot Toddy, Kalinka, Hine e Hine (with our faithful soprano Margaret Thompsett singing the solo), In the Mood, then both bands wound up the evening with Sussex by the Sea and Spirit of Freedom

Onwards and upwards, as they say! Roll on our 75th in 2021….

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