News

The band had the privilege of taking part in entertaining the crowds for the opening ceremonies for the new "Parkway" development that has opened in Newbury this week. Thursday lunchtime saw the band take to the main stage for a (brief) 45 minute programme, providing music to the crowds as they looked and shopped around the brand new complex. This followed on from a small, but select group taking part in the main procession through the town leading up the grand opening at 11 am that morning. (Apparently in excess of 25,000+ people were in attendance throughout the day!)

Stop Press! - Watership Brass are pleased to announce that we are off on a 5 day tour to Belgium in August 2012, (Over the period of the August Bank Holiday weekend). This follows on from successful tours of Holland, Germany, Canada and the US, South Africa and Italy. The tour is in the planning stages at the moment but watch this space...More details to follow!

Congratulations to Alex and Eleanor Pearce on the safe arrival of baby daughter Charlotte at 4.15pm on Monday! (Weighing in at 7lb 1oz). Proud dad Alex has now successfully delivered 3 out of 3...The Midwife missed the birth by a couple of minutes!

Watership Brass visited Bradfield College on Saturday 2nd April to present a concert in support of The Fire Fighters Charity. The College Music Hall had good acoustics and tiered seating but the wide stage was rather shallow which meant the band had to adapt to the space available. After a brief introduction, M.D. Mark Picken began the Concert with the rousing Sousa march “King Cotton”, which was well received. A selection from “ My Fair Lady” followed before Mark took time to explain his choice of an unusual composition which he thought appropriate for a concert involving the Fire Service. “Time Flies By” was based upon "Trumpton"...a children’s TV programme from the 1970's, which included the Trumpton Fire Brigade. Chief Fire Officer Iain Cox from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service then welcomed everyone to the Concert. He explained a little of the work of the charity and compared his service to the Watership motto - that they were both serving the Community but in different ways. The show continued with a concert march “Slipstream”, a solo “Misty”, beautifully performed by the band’s principal cornet Mick Wooldridge, and to bring the first half to a close Gustav Holst’s “2nd Suite in F Major”. After a slight delay, wine, beer and soft drinks were served during the interval by college personnel. The band returned to the stage to present a wide range of music, designed to suit all tastes and judging by the enthusiastic applause of the audience, this was appreciated. Iain Cox returned to thank the band and the listeners for supporting their Charity. Mark Picken introduced band chairman Nigel Blake, a former serving fireman and explained his role in organising the event. Whilst the numbers were below the hall capacity it was generally agreed that the quality of the music and the level of entertainment was first class. The band concluded with Goff Richards’s arrangement of the hymn tune “Crimond”, but an encore was demanded with Sousa again filling the bill – with the march “The Thunderer”.

Watership Brass is pleased to announce the hectic, but safe arrival of Jasper and Scarlett (Twins!) to Martyn Adams (Percussionist) and Grace. Congratulations to both parents and proud Nanny and Grandpa Margaret and Lawrence. Multiple births seem to be a tradition with the band as there are already a Triplet and a Twin...Both cornet players in the band!