News
May 2020
We are very sad to announce the passing of our much loved cornet player Albert Manley on Friday 22nd May 2020. We share here our tribute to Albert.
We in Patcham Silver Band first met Albert some 28 years or so ago when we were playing one summer afternoon near Ringmer. He and Jean were holidaying in their caravan nearby and he heard the music – well, that was just the beginning! Albert made himself known to us, joined the band and was a much loved and respected member from that time on.
Albert was one of the most loyal and faithful of people I think I have known. Never one to push himself forward but to always be there, no fuss, no bother, just sheer lovely bandsmanship. Indeed he made 3rd cornet playing a sheer art – there aren’t many brass bands who can boast such an asset on their ‘back bench’.
Albert was such a loyal band member that he used to plan his holidays around band engagements often turning up to play having arranged to holiday nearby! For some years he was band librarian, housing the band’s music portfolio in his rear living room and masterfully keeping all our music folders in order. Yes, we thought the world of him and it was our privilege to make him a life member of the band after being with us for 25 years.
We are all so sorry that Albert is no longer with us – Patcham Silver Band will not be the same without him – we are just so glad that we were able to share in his 90th birthday celebrations on that Friday evening last August 9th.
Albert, we miss you – we look forward to giving you a special ‘send off / tribute’ evening when we can all meet again to play. Your Patcham Silver Band family looks forward to sharing this with your much loved family members and close friends. Until then old friend……we send you our heartfelt love and gratitude.
Written by Barbara Deane, Band chair
Albert celebrates his 90th birthday
Albert Manley, life member of our band and cornet player celebrated his 90th birthday in style on Friday 9th August by coming to band practice of course! Albert arrived to find a balloon next to his chair and celebrated during the tea break with band members and his family. Linda, our tuba player made a very special cake featuring all aspects of Alberts life including caravanning and his novel approach to playing trumpet in A!
Summer Season
We’ve had a busy few weeks. In July we celebrated the end of the academic year with our summer concert featuring our new beginners group, the youth band, the Tuesday group and the senior band. We’re very proud of all our players and everyone enjoyed hearing the music we had all been working on this year. Alongside this event we have performed at lots of local fetes and events including the Small Dole Show, Henfield Garden and Arts, the Henfield fayre and many more.
Jim Calloway:
We are very sad to announce the recent passing of one of our founder members and life member, Jim Calloway. Jim was a much loved and respected part our of banding family and we shall all miss him very much. Current members of the band who are able will be paying their respects and saying their farewells to him this coming Monday 25th February. The funeral is at the Downs Crematorium, Brighton at 11.00am. The family extends a warm welcome to all Jim’s friends.
BEST 9 FROM 2018
As we start to plan our 2019 season here are our best 9 pictures from 2018. Hopefully there give you a flavour of the variety of events we play at and how much fun we have. Find out more about both of our bands by exploring the rest of the website.
LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS 2018
Although normally involved as Principal Euphonium, last night, Saturday 3rd November, I was privileged to be able to listen to Patcham Silver Band “from the kitchen”! Combining kettle drums with a variety of beaters and other “kitchen” paraphernalia at the Church of Christ the King in Langney, I was most impressed with the overall sound of the Band and shared the aural joys and atmosphere of the evening from a very different perspective.
Our musical journey began in Wales, travelling all over the UK, around Europe and even “across the Pond” before arriving home for that traditional celebration of everything that’s British, “The Last Night of the Proms”. James’s choice of programme was inspired as always.
The concert began with a lively Welsh march “Castell Coch” brilliantly played but, hopefully not marred by some, perhaps over-exuberant, cymbal playing from one of the Band’s new percussionists!
David Bubloz mesmerised us with his lyrical cornet playing in an arrangement of the old Welsh Hymn, Crugybar and who could have shunned Vicki Windslow’s invitation on Solo Horn to make us feel her love?! Regular guest soprano soloist, Margaret Thomsett, performed with customary aplomb, raising us up before participating in the British Sea Songs Medley and, especially relevant as we near Brexit, reminding us that “there’s no place like home” and “Britons never, never, never, shall be slaves”!
The audience certainly lived the moment with flags a-waving and we were deeply indebted to four of our friends from Mid Sussex Brass for their invaluable help in making this annual, popular and much cherished event as successful as ever and raising nearly £600 for charity.
Whatever the future holds after Brexit, Patcham Silver will always be a Band of Hope and Glory!
Well done all!
AWTH
BRASS BANDATHON 2018
The youth band were proud to take part in the brilliant Brassbandathon organised by Worthing Silver Band to raise money for Children in Need. Total raised on the day was £2,400. Although the band were disappointed not to win a pCornet on the raffle we were delighted to meet Pudsey who popped by for a photograph with us!
SUMMER 2018
Wow! What a busy summer we had. We played at fetes, parties, concerts, weddings, open gardens in some glorious weather. Here’s a few pictures from our outings.
LOOKING BACK AT CHRISTMAS 2017
The youth band began the carolling season today (18th November) at the wonderful Fairytale Fair in Patcham Methodist church just opposite our rehearsal venue. This community event Christmas fair is free to attend and offers the chance for children to do some Christmas craft activities while their families get started on their Christmas shopping. We always receive a warm welcome and this year was no exception. The band coped really well with some trying conditions and performed some very lively carol renditions as visitors to the fair came by. Our music was destroyed by the rain but luckily the instruments (and their players) are made of stronger stuff!
LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS
On Saturday 11th November, the Band enjoyed yet another visit to the Church of Christ the King in Eastbourne. This now annual event is one which everyone eagerly awaits not least because of the magnificent interval refreshments, speed raffle and one of our most appreciative audiences!
Under the enthusiastic direction of James Benka-Coker we performed a programme mainly of arrangements of popular melodies but culminating in the usual Last Night of the Proms finale with Union Flags a-waving and several of the audience members resplendent in true LNOP finery with costumes and hats!
We featured our customarily splendid cornet soloist, David Bubloz, in an arrangement of Stars from Les Miserables and our entire tuba section in the foot-tapping, hand-clapping, thigh-slapping Tyrolean Tubas.
Once again we were joined by our soprano soloist, Margaret Thomsett who featured in the usual Proms favourites but also gave a super rendition of The White Cliffs of Dover in tribute not only to Dame Vera Lynn (100 years young this year!) but also to those who have lost their lives in the two World Wars and other combat.
Apart from the more traditional fare, James boldly chose to introduce the audience to an original work for band in Peter Graham’s “Dimensions” which is often used on the contest stage. This is also a fine concert work and greatly enjoyable to play but would the audience share ours and James’s enthusiasm for it? You bet they did and we received rapturous applause at its conclusion – perhaps we will engender a similar reaction from the Adjudicator if we do indeed play it at the forthcoming SCABA contest in February next year?
This was a really great and enjoyable evening and many thanks to the plethora of guest players, too many to mention individually, who made it possible. Many thanks also to Barry and all at the Church for inviting us and especially for requesting we do it all again next year!
AWTH
SUMMER FUN
Here are a few pictures from our summer engagement so far. As you can see we get around a bit and perform at a wide variety of venues.
HENFIELD SHOW
HENFIELD CHURCH FETE
We had a great afternoon at the St Peters Church fete on Sat 24th June. The combined youth and senior bands played two sets of lively music with our conductor James playing drums for several numbers. This gave Linda, Barbara and David the chance to share conducting duties along with Sandra our youth band musical director.
In the interval we were served tea and cake and some of the band even played on a big chess set!
YOUTH BAND AT ST PHILIPS
The youth band enjoyed their first outdoor fete of the year on Sat 17th June when we joined our friends at St Philips in Hove for the Aldrington Fete. On a very hot day the band performed favourites such as Colonel Bogey, 500 miles and The Lincolnshire Poacher. It was also a special occasion as our two newest players made their performance debut.
EASTBOURNE BANDSTAND
On Wednesday 31st May we joined forces with our friends from Mid Sussex band for the traditional 1812 concert on Eastbourne Bandstand. The weather was fabulous and the audience very appreciative. The concert featured a solo from our principal cornet David Bubloz along with a lively performance of Music for a Festival.
HORSHAM CARFAX BANDSTAND
Our first outdoor concert of the season, in a sunny/breezy bandstand at Horsham Carfax
FILM EVENING IN BRIGHTON
On May 13, simultaneously with the Eurovision Song Contest, members of Patcham Silver Band entertained their loyal audience at St Andrew’s Moulsecoomb with a celebration of James Bond!
70th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Visit the 70th birthday page for details of our 70th birthday celebrations including a review of the anniversary concert and links to our photo album
YOUTH BAND SUMMER SEASON
Our youth band have had a busy summer season with performances at Lancing College Preparatory School, a Queen’s birthday part celebration in Small Dole and the St Philips Church fete in Hove.
PATCHAM SILVER BAND PLAYS STORRINGTON
On Saturday March 5th PSB made their successful debut at Storrington’s imposing Parish Church of St Mary, as part of the band’s 70th birthday celebrations.
Why Storrington? Because Vicki’s sister-in-law is their preacher, James had played the Last Post there, and George Jones is their organist/choirmaster and Concert Committee member.
George, you will remember, regularly hosts the band at the Angmering Chorale’s Christmas Concerts. He particularly enjoyed our performance of Gabriel Faure’s lovely Pavane tonight
Our concert had a varied programme of Classical, Jazz, Traditional, Marches, Musical Theatre and Folk. We even briefly visited New Zealand with a charming lullaby “ Hine e Hine” played in honour of one of our past members who has left us to return home
The Band acquitted itself well with the two items it is preparing for the annual SCABA Spring Contest at the Hawth Theatre, Crawley, on April 24. These are Rimmer’s famous march Punchinello and James’s arrangement of the First Suite in Eb by Gustav Holst. Other challenging pieces played tonight included Shostakovich’s Festive Overture (a la Black Dyke!) and Cry of the Celts by Hardiman.
We invite all our friends and audiences to come and support us there!
Just a Closer Walk parodies a Creole Funeral procession, beginning slowly and later dramatically breaking out into jazz. Throughout the evening there were wonderful solos from Vicki, David, Jim, Barbara and Charlie, among others. We were also fortunate enough to welcome several guest players to join in the fun
We had a very nice supportive audience, some of whom had never heard a brass band playing live, so we are hoping they will invite us back!
Many thanks indeed to our kind hosts, and as ever, to James for organising, rehearsing and compering the concert
Marilyn Hurdwell
LOVE IS IN THE AIR AT PATCHAM!
Patcham Silver Band celebrated St Valentine’s weekend and the beginning of our 70th year with a very enjoyable Open Rehearsal at Patcham Junior School.
Friends and families were invited to join us as we performed several pieces with LOVE as the central theme. Music being the food of love, (or is it the love of food??) we also enjoyed delicious refreshments and birthday cake very kindly provided by our long-standing resident soprano Margaret Thompsett, as well as her delightful rendition of Hine e Hine (a NZ lullaby) and Lloyd-Webber’s Love Changes Everything – both accompanied by the band. Solo and duet performances were also offered by some of our brave members who were due to appear at the SCABA contest the next day – a golden opportunity to strut their stuff in front of a friendly audience. Dave Short, Claire Davis and Jim Hurdwell played Swedish Hymn, Goodbye to Love and Donegal Bay respectively. Dave & James played Pie Jesu and Jim & Marilyn played the Pearl Fishers’ Duet, with Marilyn & James taking it in turns to accompany.
Other romantic pieces played by the whole band were My Love is like a Red, Red Rose (soloist David Bubloz), True Love Ways (featuring the ladies of the Horn section), When I’m 64 (I wish!), Theme from Love Story, Hopelessly Devoted to You (Grease), The Power of Love, and Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. These were offset by the more lively Radetsky March and Clog Dance
It was good to have some members of the Patcham Youth Band joining in with us and we hope they will be encouraged to play alongside the Senior Band whenever possible. Young Sean received a special round of applause for his surprise solo in Music of the Night!
Our grateful thanks are due to Margaret who generously gave of her time and expertise, our audience, band members and especially to James for masterminding the whole evening. This special occasion got our anniversary year off to a splendid start!
SCABA CONTEST
Southern Counties Amateur Banding Association (SCABA) hosted its annual Solo and Duet contest
on Saturday February 13th at St Paul’s Catholic College, Burgess Hill. The Adjudicator was newcomer Josh Cirtina, currently a 3rd Year student at RNCM but a very experienced Bass Trombone player.
The contest was divided between Junior, Youth, Senior and Open Classes, all of whom featured talented players who welcomed the opportunity of broadening their experience in a competitive situation. Josh gave every competitor valuable advice and encouragement both generally and in an individually written adjudication sheet, and the whole day was deemed a resounding success.
Not everybody won a prize or even a certificate, but all came away having learned useful tips and with a feeling of exhilaration in having performed to the best of their ability in a challenging environment, as well as making new friends and listening to new material.
Other SCABA events during 2016 include their Spring Contest on April 24 (in which Patcham will be taking part), Entertainment Contest on 22 May, Autumn Contest on Sep 25 (all at the Hawth Theatre, Crawley) and the Quartet & Ensemble Contest on Oct 22 back at St Paul’s
Marilyn Hurdwell
PADDY CRAWFORD CLARKE
It is with great sadness that we share with you the news that Paddy Crawford Clarke, a former member of our youth band and brother of solo cornet player Reuben died in a motor accident on Thursday 10th December 2015. Paddy was a member of the band as a boy and brought to us a great enthusiasm for playing the trumpet. He will be remembered for his commitment to the band and his enjoyment of playing and being part of the group. Our thoughts are with Paddy’s family and friends.
Paddy (fourth from left) and Reuben (far right) performing with the band
JIM CALLOWAY RETIREMENT CELEBRATION
Our longest standing band member Jim Calloway celebrated his 90th birthday with the band on Friday 27th November. Jim has been in the band almost since its inception, he recalls joining the band sometime between being demobbed in 1946 and meeting his wife in 1949! Sadly, Jim has decided to hand up his cornet but will still be an active participant in band actives as our vice chairman.
After speeches and cake we then had a final rehearsal of his favourite march, Punchinello, some Christmas numbers and of course Sussex By the Sea.
Youth Band meet Pudsey!
On Saturday 3rd October our youth band joined other bands from the region to take part in a 12 hour brass band marathon raising money for Children in Need. A fantastic £1600 was raised at the event organised by Worthing Silver Band.
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