Hitting the High Notes
Theresa Moorin our resident soprano and horn player doesn’t just have a great voice… She is also a self defence instructor and she also likes to take on crazy challenges! As it was the 80th anniversary of D-day this year, Theresa decided to go on The Frontline Walk following a route along the beaches of Normandy which were the backdrop for the Normandy Invasion. Theresa did the walk in aid of Blesma the military charity for Limbless Veterans and raised nearly £2000. Well done Theresa!
This event just seems to get better and better. The Band was supported musically by Torbay Police and Community Choir (soloist Samson Spooner), Theresa Moorin, and the Corps of Drums. Central Church once again provided the wonderful venue and allowed us the ability to put on multi media screens and to provide a big enough venue for flags and marching! The Band’s focus was on Dday80 and after the concert part of the evening, Father Peter March lead us in remembering all of those who have been affected by war in all conflicts. It was fabulous to have so many Cadets supporting us and to have the wonderful standards and their personnel who had been so busy over the weekend. They were brilliantly organised (as always) by the superb Dave Tribble. We were also incredibly pleased to have members of the incredible Brixham Battery group wearing uniforms from the 1940s. It’s impossible to thank everyone but well done to our MD, Mike Griffiths, who once again put all of this together.
Here are a few photos, but please check out our new Remembrance 2024 page in our gallery. Thank you to Christine Bovey for the photos.
The Band joined with Torbay Police and Community Choir once again at Paignton Parish Church to support the start of the Royal British Legion Paignton Branch Poppy Appeal. It was a great concert and we were very lucky to have an amazing photographer (Gary Hadden) to take photos for us – thank you Gary. Some are included here but to see more, please visit out Remembrance 2024 page in our Gallery.
Apologies to all for these late news items but we have had a slight glitch with the website. We’re now back in business!
On the 9th October, the Band had their first Autumn Concert of 2024 at St Michael’s Church in Teignmouth. For those who don’t know anything about the wonderful Operation Imprezza charity, it is a UK charity supporting a secondary school in Kenya. |https://operation-imprezza.org/
Here is a link to youtube to watch the Band in action https://youtu.be/QTn-LYL_-Ok
We had an excellent concert last week which raised over £600 for various charities. Hosted fantastically by Combe Pafford School, the Hall was decorated and food was provided by the School Staff. It was great to welcome a Corps of Drums to give the occasion a real sense of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ and we had our own Theresa Moorin singing with Sally and Max. As well as playing all the traditional numbers, the Band also played a new arrangement ‘Football Crazy’ by our Chairman Ray Lloyd to celebrate the success of our National Team. Below is a link to a photo clip video with photos by two of our friends and music recorded on one of their phones.
Check out our new video.
The Band were honoured to be able to play a small part in remembrance events on the 6th June. In the morning we were providing some music for the service at Beacon Quay, Torquay and in the evening we provided the bugler for the beacon lighting event at Corbyn Head which followed the guidelines for beacon lighting all over the British Isles. We enjoyed watching the events in Normandy and thought we would create this video of the Band in remembrance of those who secured our freedom. Thank you to Theresa who took the photos and videos on her phone. https://youtu.be/Gdk9VD-PvAQ
Central Church supports the Band throughout the year so it was great to hear that we helped them raise over £500 at our last concert. It was a great concert with solos provided by Theresa with Sally and Max. Justine played a wonderful rendition of Over the Rainbow and John and Hannah played Ray’s arrangement of You Don’t Send Me Flowers Anymore (though John insists that this is not true). The concert ended with the beautiful piece Guardian of My Soul by Darren Shaw followed by the traditional Nightfall in Camp. Back by very popular demand was Floral Dance to send every one out on a high note. Please go to our Gallery page and look for ‘Central Church Concert in the sub menu to see media from the evening.
Within the Band, remembrance is a massive priority. We are also keen to promote brass bands and remembrance within the youth of our local area. One of our members recently organised an afternoon at the D-day slipways at Beacon Quay in Torquay for a year group in his school. Our MD was pleased to go down and sound the Last Post whilst they placed a wreath on the memorial.
The slipways in Torquay are one of a pair built in May 1943 by the Royal Engineers for the D-Day embarkation of troops. The men of the U.S. 77th Infantry Division, destined for Utah Beach, embarked from here and many did not set foot on land again. On the 6th June, the Band will be remembering these soldiers and many like them at a service at Beacon Quay (outside the Harvester on Torquay Harbourside).
Congratulations to our band member and resident singer, Theresa, who completed the 26 mile Royal Parks Challenge. She ended up walking 29 miles (due to protests) in the rain and raised the amazing sum of £1000 for Battersea Dogs’ Home in memory of her dog Fozzie. Well done Theresa!
