On Monday evening, our Lydney Starter Group, alongside members of the Lydney Training Band, performed their Spring Showcase for the residents of Rodley House in Lydney! Speaking about the concert our Development Officer, Kerry Ford, said: 

"It was an absolute pleasure to play for the ladies and gentlemen at Rodley House. The children and adults from the Starter Group were all prepared with their solos and duets, 17 in all. It was a great opportunity to hear five debut soloists too. We had a few helpers from the Training Band and the band pieces of Eventide and Marching Marines were superb. There were so many highlights, here are a few: when the ladies and gentlemen started singing along with Jonah in Daisy Bell, Euan nailing his top notes in Grandfather’s clock, the debut soloists playing along to backing tracks spot on time, Amanda playing superbly in front of the home crowd, and our newest recruit Rhys playing We Will Rock You without music. I had a couple of gulpy moments during Gill’s ‘Where is Love’ and was super proud of Millie grabbing the style of Pink Panther. All the soloists did brilliantly, overcoming nerves and getting out there. It all looks very positive for the future of the band with young and adult learners taking up the mantle. Super happy. Thank you everyone. A big thank you to Rodley House for their wonderful supportive audience, especially my old maths teacher who shook my hand and said what a good job we were doing; another gulp."

Last month, Lydney Training Band was fortunate enough to be recipients of a Build Back Better grant from Gloucestershire County Council. The money has already funded three new instruments and new music for the band’s upcoming summer concert programme. This wouldn’t have been possible without the help and advice of Councillor Alan Preest, Chairman of Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), pictured here with Band Chairman Kevin Ford.  

Commenting on the grant, Kevin said: “The band would like to express our thanks to Councillor Preest and GCC for their efficient handling of the process and the swift allocation of funds. It will enable the band to continue its music education program of youngsters and adults and continue entertaining the Lydney community and the wider Forest of Dean area in the future.” 
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Councillor Preest said of the grant: “As I travel the length and breadth of Gloucestershire as County Council Chairman, I meet so many wonderful people who tell me how the Council has impacted positively on them. The Lydney Division is no exception. Over the last couple of years, I have been able to facilitate “Build Back Better” grants to close on twenty organisations that make such a valuable impact within OUR community. Lydney Town Band are no exception. It is so evident that they encompass positivity, enjoyment, energy, structure, and in young people nurture ability and confidence. It was an absolute pleasure to have been able to help them.”

Following the success of a busy summer concert programme in 2022, the Band's 130th Anniversary Concert, an active Christmas season and the work that had been put into the WEBBA Regional Finals, the Town Band took the opportunity to go out for a band social at the Orepool Inn, Coleford. The Band's Chairman, Kevin Ford, and Musical Director, Thomas Dunne, thanked the band for their incredibly hard work over the last year. ​

This weekend, Lydney Town Band was one of sixteen bands competing in the Third Section of the West of England Brass Band Association Regional Finals. We performed 'Chorale and Toccata' by Stephen Bulla, under adjudication by Christopher Bond and Tom Hutchinson. Following months of preparation, the Band bolstered by the recent addition of Ian Ford and Herbie in the cornet section and Ben Hannaford-Waddington on percussion took to the stage in the Riviera International Centre in Torquay.

The adjudicators complimented the band as giving an admirable performance which was well managed by the Musical Director (Tom Dunne) and ultimately placed the Band eighth overall. The contest also featured the public debut of the Band's new jackets and marked Herbie's first contest and Dave Wintle's 64th! 

Pictured are our solo cornet team (Kerry, Ian, Mark and Kay) with Mark (euphonium).