Description

A fun and friendly second section band in Cambridgeshire.

Early in 1978, Maureen and Wally Neville approached John and Beryl Few with the idea of forming Waterbeach Brass. The first band practice was held in Maureen's kitchen with 7 players.

Within a few years the Band was 30 strong, had 15 juniors and had qualified for the national finals in London.

John soon put down the euphonium to become the Musical Director. Waterbeach Brass quickly became one of Cambridge's premier brass bands and achieved 2nd Section ranking, at the time only one step below Championship status. The band was crowned Cambridgeshire Champion in 1985. So many trophies were won that John had to be helped by Wally to hold them all!

John Few passed away in 1999. He will be remembered for the warmth of his personality, his generosity of spirit and his unstinting commitment to developing and inspiring young musicians.

The band continued with the support of several local conductors and in 2000 Waterbeach Brass became Ely Riverside Entertainment Champions and maintained its place in the 4th Section.

The Band did not contest in 2003, but later in the year did attract a young conductor, James Utting, who had recently moved to the area to take up the position of Head of Music at Manor Community College in Cambridge. There was a remarkable turn-around when the the Band re-entered the London and Southern Counties area contest in March 2004 and was awarded first place against strong competition from a large turnout of 21 bands.

From then on the Band went from strength to strength. Waterbeach Brass reached the National Finals in 2004 and again in 2006, the year in which they were promoted to the 3rd Section. 2006 also saw success in the Butlins Mineworkers band contest when they came 2nd against a strong field of bands from the whole country. Closer to home the Band won the B section of the 2006 East Anglian entertainment contest in Norwich and came 3rd in the 2007 Leicestershire Area Brass Band Association contest.

In 2008/9 The Band celebrated its 30th anniversary year in style, hosting a joint concert with the world famous Fodens Brass Band, performing a summer concert in Greenwich Park, recording its 2nd CD 'Just Good Friends', and was promoted to the 2nd Section.

Under the baton of James Utting Waterbeach Brass continued with full rehearsals and a full line-up and maintained the programme of local outdoor and more formal concerts and achieved (mostly) good contest results including: Butlins Mineworkers, Leicester, Bolsover in addition to the 'areas'. Waterbeach Brass also continued to play in the London Parks each year until the Sunday bandstand programme was stopped as a result of funding being diverted towards the Olympics. In addition to Greenwich Park, we played St James Park and Kensington Gardens. The successful formula for each year involved: coach + band picnic lunch from the band's professional college chef and catering manager + full well received programme + returns for the lunch table during the interval and after the performance to be sure that all the food and beer was not wasted + coach home = successful day. After the London Parks' work stopped, this formula was transferred to the annual seaside trip to play at Hunstanton Bandstand.

Having enjoyed rehearsal facilities provided by the Army for several years at Waterbeach barracks, the brass band needed a new home when the barracks closed in 2011. We settled into the village hall of neighbouring north Cambridge village, Landbeach.

James moved to Malta with his family in 2011. Thirteen conductors expressed interest in the MD position and David Minchin was chosen by the band. He guided the band for the next four years, gradually improving playing and contest performance boosted by new players. Cambridge is a busy employment region, bringing new players into the area, and Waterbeach continues to attract new players looking to find a brass band in Cambridge. The band continues to thrive as measured by its full rehearsals and the number of people stopping for a 'pint' after rehearsal.

Each year Waterbeach and Cambridge University Brass Band play an enjoyable joint concert in November and several members of Waterbeach Brass are ex-students now working in the Cambridge area. In 2013 Steven Mead held an afternoon workshop for both bands and played in this concert as guest euphonium soloist.

In spring 2015, the band held auditions again for an MD, as David was obliged to stop conducting to make space in his life for a new teaching job. We were flattered by the number and quality of applicants and delighted to appoint Andrew Kershaw as our new MD. We have enjoyed playing our summer programme together and look forward to a long association.

If you are interested in playing with the band we'd love to hear from you, whether you're interested in joining permanently or just want to come for a one-off blow.

The band rehearses close to Cambridge, at Waterbeach Barracks, on Monday nights from 7:45pm to 10:00pm.

Description

Often described as 'the greatest free show on Earth', the Saddleworth & District Whit Friday Brass Band Contests take place every year on the afternoon and evening of Whit Friday.
From the earliest recorded contest in 1884, the event has grown in popularity. Last year well over a hundred brass bands participated in some twenty different contests at venues scattered around the moorland villages and towns on the western edge of the Pennines. All of the contests are open-air, many in delightful surroundings. The area has a very strong tradition of brass band music. In the weeks before Whit Friday, the sounds of rehearsals echo across the hillsides from the various band rooms and village halls. There are thriving bands in some of the tiniest villages. And the best bands are world class.

The contests are open to all-comers. So the local youth bands get to match their skills against the top bands of the country. For bandsmen, the dash from contest to contest makes for an exhilarating (though exhausting) evening. See the comments in the guest book. This is a major event in the brass band calendar and bands travel the length of the country to participate, some even turning up from overseas.
Contests typically start at about 4.30pm. Bands play two pieces (marches), one on the march and then their well-rehearsed show-piece on whatever passes for a rostrum. Each performance is scored 'blind' by an adjudicator, hidden in some adjacent darkened room or caravan.

Each contest offers prizes for the best band, best youth band, best soloists etc. At one of the busier venues, you could expect to hear over 50 bands, before the winners are announced shortly after close (10.30 pm or 11.30pm, though the most popular contests can go on well into the early hours).

It is possible to look in at several contests during the evening. But with over 100 bus-loads of bandsmen about, with many of the roads closed to traffic and the inevitable parking problems, it pays not to be over-ambitious.

Each contest is organised by local volunteers. All the running costs and prize money are raised by local donations and through fund-raising events. Most provide refreshments. Helpers are always needed on the night. If you can spare a couple of hours at any of the contests, please email.

Each contest sets its own rules. Bands are required to play a published march, an unmarked copy of which should be handed to the Contest Steward on arrival at the signing-on point. Normally, no more than 25 players may play the contest piece, plus the conductor.

On the morning of Whit Friday, the traditional Whit Walks take place. Dobcross contest have introduced a Henry Livings memorial prize, open to bands who have played on any of the morning's walks.

Various Locations,

Oldham and Saddleworth,

Oldham,

Greater Manchester,

England,

OL3.