Lyme Regis Town Band

Tonight we managed to squeeze our seafront concert in before the weather broke. During the concert there was the rumble of thunder and quite spectacular fork lightening out in the bay but the band played on and our audience stuck with us. Heavy rain finally caught up with us just as we started to play our last number.

This evening we were pleased to welcome Ralph MacCraken who sat in with us on front row cornet. Ralph, from Ayrshire, was visiting the area on holiday and was most welcome.

Don’t forget if you are coming to Lyme Regis this summer, bring your instrument with you and let us know. We would be pleased to see you

Didn’t we have a wonderful time the day we went to Hawkchurch! The MacKenzie family gave us a very warm welcome considering they had been partying into the early hours the night before! We played for two hours with a break for some splendid refreshments. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for all concerned.

Many thanks to Dr MacKenzie for inviting us to play.

Our first concert on Marine Parade this summer went with a flourish. We had a surprisingly large audience in view of the early date: a warm evening and good balance in the ranks. The performance was preceded by a photocall – a cheque presented by Band President and Town Councillor Owen Lovell to the band representing the recent grant by the town council enabling us to purchase new waistcoats.

This month the band contributed to this important annual event in the town’s calendar. The service was held as usual in the parish church. We played a hymn as an opening voluntary, accompanied the congregational hymns alongside organ and choir and offered a Mozart arrangement at the end. We hope we looked smart in our new waistcoats!

We were pleased to play at the Millwey Community Event held this afternoon.  The rain held off but the windy weather might have kept some people away.  Thanks to the organisers for inviting us to attend.

If you are coming to Lyme Regis on holiday this summer and you play in a brass band, please bring your instrument with you. Lyme Regis Town Band holds an open air concert on the Marine Parade every Tuesday evening from 8.00 pm until 9.00 pm throughout July and August, commencing on Tuesday, 4th July with the last one on 29th August, and we’d love you to join us.  Additionally we play on four Sunday afternoons from 2.30 pm until 4.00 pm and the dates for these concerts are 9th July, 23rd July, 30th July and 13th August.

All instruments are most welcome.  You can phone our Secretary, Gilly Warr, for more information (01297 442719), email gkwarr46@gmail.com or, if you prefer, just turn up.  The more the merrier!

The next engagement for the band will be an appearance at a community event to be held at Millwey Rise in Axminster during the afternoon of Saturday, 10th June.  

The band will also take part in the Mayor’s Civic Service to be held at St Michael’s Parish Church in Lyme Regis on Sunday, 18th June at 10.00 am.  Lyme Regis Town Council recently provided a grant which has enabled the band to purchase red waistcoats for band members.  The band is most grateful to the local Council for their support and fittingly these new items of uniform will be worn for the first time at the Civic Service.

Lyme Regis Town Band began its busy summer season by taking part in the Blessing the Boats Ceremony organised by the RNLI, which took place at the Lifeboat Station on Sunday, 21st May.  The service was led by local clergy and organisations connected with the sea took part.  The band provided the accompaniment for the hymns and played Amazing Grace as the lifeboat left the harbour to lay the wreaths at sea, escorted by gigs from the Lyme Regis Gig Club.  As the crowds dispersed after the service the band played the stirring march “Westward Ho!”

This week the band held its AGM at the Woodmead Halls, which was chaired by the band President, Councillor Owen Lovell.

The Bandmaster’s Award for the most improved player was presented to Viv Wright, who plays solo horn, and the Musical Director’s Award for the band member who goes that extra mile went to Adrian Pearson, trombone player, who has recently taken over responsibility for the band website, in addition to his duties as Treasurer.

The Chairman’s report included these remarks: “Another successful year for the band. We have played well, with another successful season on the seafront, where I thought the band played particularly well.  As usual, December was a very busy time for us but we sailed through all the engagements with flying colours.  Once again the Christmas Concert was a resounding success making a very good profit for the band, which is always welcome with the barren months up to July….I received a phone call from Rachel Mackenzie who was the lady who hurled herself out of a plane and for whom some of us played at Hawkchurch last weekend. She said that it was a wonderful performance which made her quite emotional and she could not thank the band enough….I have a list of thank yous to go through. First, many thanks for the Mayor for chairing the meeting tonight;  we are very grateful for the support he shows the band as our President and its always a delight to see him.  I also want to thank Viv for the hard work she does ferrying a full drumkit and John around to rehearsals and performances. To Jane for her work with our learners which may well reap benefits in terms of future additions to our cornet line; to Ralph for his contribution to the collecting and his photography; to Adrian for his work on the website and also to Kathy and Luke for their contribution to the committee as the newest members.  Also a special mention to the young dancers, coached by Kathy, for their performance at the Christmas Concert.  Many people said how much they enjoyed their dancing.  Thanks also to Brian for his work with the band.  We have progressed under his direction and it’s also so nice to have fun in rehearsal. And finally, thanks to you, the band.”

Lyme resident and band supporter Nigel Ball brought the meeting to a close by thanking the band for their hard work throughout the year, particularly the concerts on the sea front throughout July and August. He felt these had been particularly good this year given the fact that the band was short on numbers at the present time.  He pointed out that the comments from visitors were always very positive.  Nigel expressed his view that the band was a credit to the town and he wished members every success in the future.

On Saturday, 14th January the band was invited to play for the MacKenzie family from Hawkchurch.  It was Mrs MacKenzie Senior’s 80th birthday and to celebrate the occasion she did a parachute jump to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance.  The band was asked to play as a surprise for her when she returned home, which she did thankfully in one piece.

The Old Inn at Hawkchurch was the venue and the band played a selection of lively music including “Those Magnificant Men in their Flying Machine”, “For she’s a jolly good fellow” and “Happy Birthday”.

The band has enjoyed a long association with the MacKenzie family, having played for several important family occasions in the past, and were very pleased to do so yet again.