Photo Gallery
An excellent training day for the band as we continue our preparation for the Area Contest in Stevenage next month. We had the very experienced Music Director and Adjudicator Michael Fowles spend the day with us working on ‘Neverland’ which is the nominated test piece for this year’s contest. Every member of the band from the most experienced players to those less so enjoyed every minute of the day. The pictures show both the learning and social side of the day. Follow the link for more information about Michael. https://www.fodensband.co.uk/about/band-members/conductors/michael-fowles/
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Our open rehearsal for ‘Friends’ of the band and local residents was again very well attended. Thanks to the New Victory Hall committee for working with us and providing the mulled wine and mince pies. We were supported by Academy Band percussionist 8 yr old Finn. Clare from the audience had a try at conducting too. An evening enjoyed by all.
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We return to the fantastic Linwood Village Hall for our first Christmas concert there. A truly lovely afternoon, with a large very appreciative audience and Father Christmas as well. A big thank you to James Higham for stepping in as conductor at very short notice. I’m sure this is a location we will visit many more times in the future.
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Once again we return to St Mary’s church in Stalham for our Autumn concert. Due to work commitments and holidays we had to use several ‘deps’ and our thanks go to them all for helping us out. We had many very nice comments from an very appreciative audience and potentially a new bass player.
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Our 2019 return to Sheringham sea front was another fantastic success at the Crown Pub. Again the weather was perfect for our concert by the sea. The ‘Sheringham Sink Hole’ made it more difficult for the players to get close to the venue, but all made it. Sad to say goodbye to Pat who has decided to retire from playing – happy retirement Pat from us all.
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Lingwood was the venue selected for this first annual Memorial Concert for our great friend Dave. The venue had to be large enough to fit in almost 40 musicians and still leave room for an audience. The Village Hall has certainly ticked all the boxes. Very helpful staff and a fantastic audience in what we hope is the beginning of a lot more visits there – a Christmas Concert is already being talked about and I think only fixing a date remains to be sorted. I’m sure Dave was watching over us and if he was he would have loved every minute of it.
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Eddie found the decision to select a winner for the trophy really difficult this year as several players had made significant improvement during the year. He finally decided that the award should be shared between Rosie (Trombone) and Michael (Flugel Horn). Both had played to a high standard in the past, but had not played for many years, in Rosie’s case over 40 years. Both were encouraged to join the Academy Band to see if somehow the excitement of playing could return. Both really enjoyed the experience and within a couple of months they transferred to the Main Band. Rosie is now the leader of the Trombone Section and Michael has played his first Flugel solo for the band. If you know someone who has played in the past tell them to give us a look – could their name be on the trophy next year?
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Our home at Neatishead was booked for the day so we moved out to the lovely village hall in Lingwood for our training day preparations prior to the area contest. Dr David Thornton who is the Musical Director of Brighouse & Rastrick band took us through a very instructive full day session. All the players said how much they enjoyed the day and how much they learned from the experience. To find more information on David follow this link http://brighouseandrastrick.com/musical-director-dr-david-thornton/
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Today was one of the saddest days in the history of Norfolk Wherry Brass as we said a final goodbye to Dave Cassady, one of our founder members. The band played the hymns and other music during the service. The band was made up of current players with former players filling seats where our own players were unavailable. Sadly many others who wanted to play, were unable to do so due to space restriction within the church. A cornet was left on Dave’s empty chair in tribute. Dave’s Royal Air Force connections were represented with the standard of the Royal Air Forces Association’s Potter Heigham Branch where he was a Life Member. The church was packed for this fitting tribute to a fine musician who was a very popular and lovely man. The last post was beautifully played by Steve Kemp at the Cromer Crematorium. Rest in Peace David – we will remember you.
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Our Christmas Concert in Stalham High School. This year the band is supporting the fund raising team from local solicitors Capron & Helliwell. They raise money every year for a different charity this year it is the East Anglian Children’s Hospices that has been chosen and in particular their ‘Nook Appeal’ for a new home built to replace the one at Quidenham.
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An evening of fun for supporters from the local community as we prepare for the E.A.C.H. concert next week. Plenty of mulled wine, mince pies and carols. The evening was tinged with sadness following the death of our founder member David Cassady earlier in the day. David would have wanted the event to continue and not be cancelled, so we performed in his honour. Well done ‘Team Wherry’
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We returned to the lovely St Mary’s church in Martham for a Remembrance Concert that marked the centenary of the end of the ‘Great War’, World War 1. Again we were joined by the very talented pupils of the Martham Academy Choral Society with their song and verse. The Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Mary Coleman, joined the audience which filled the church.
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Eddie brought a surprise guest to our rehearsal tonight Kevin Steward who is currently serving with the Royal Corps of Signals and is also an M.D. with the Desford Colliery Band. Kevin sat in and played with the band for the first part of the evening and then took over from Eddie to conduct and pass on to the band some of his knowledge. A really productive evening was enjoyed by all.
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Our only performance at The Crown this year. The weather was perfect and a very large crowd enjoyed the varied foot tapping music played by the band. If you are local and enjoyed our performance come and visit us again at future concerts. If you were in Sheringham on holiday hope you had a great time.
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We were joined by the Mulbarton Community Choir and the Mulbarton Primary School Choir for this joint ‘Spring’ concert. What a fantastic evening it was playing to a packed audience of well over 200 people and the acoustics in the Abbey are fantastic. A representative from the Abbey said it was the biggest concert there for many, many years. Both choirs and the band all gave excellent performances on the night and we look forward to our next reunion in November at Hethersett.
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We are pleased to announce that Castle Promotions has become the band’s latest sponsor. The owner, Tony Collins, has presented us with a publicity banner donated by his company. We also now have band stickers with front or back adhesive for sale at our concerts. To see more information about Castle Promotion products visit their website at www.castlepromotions.co.uk.
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Team Wherry attended the area contest and had a fantastic day. The result of our performance was very mixed with 4barsrest.com (a website covering all things brass banding) placing us 3rd but the official adjudicators placing us 14th. Hard to understand the difference but we can’t change it. Eddie and the players all agreed they gave it their very best on the day and have no regrets about their performance. Now to our concert season, with all the players from yesterday, this is already looking to be busy.
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We have had a wonderful journey through the Alps today with Adam Cooke the Director of Music with the Championship GUS Band and Norwegian Stavangar Brass Band. Adam spent most of the day covering different aspects of our test piece for the Area Contest in Stevenage next month ‘Napoleon in the Alps’ and the players had a great day learning from a brilliant young musician. The members provided a buffet lunch and the day came to an end with Adam joining us in the local White Horse for a meal. Thanks Adam from us all
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Steve took the Academy Band bowling in Norwich for the evening. We have no pictures of the action but during the evening young Joe was presented with the 'Most improved Player of the year award' and his mum Lorraine came second. The result was determined by a vote of all the Academy members.
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Finally we are able to show all the pictures taken with the BBC back in July at the Norfolk Wherry Trust. We all really enjoyed the experience of working with a team of true professionals. The whole crew live together while out on location using the same hotels and eating places as the ‘star’ of the show Michael Portillo. Whatever you think of Michael’s politics he came across as a really nice person on the day just as he does on his films.
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Our final rehearsal of 2017, following a busy and exiting year, took us to the Alps for our first rehearsal of the test piece for the area contest next March. The piece ‘Napoleon on the Alps’ will be played by all the band’s in our section (3rd) throughout Britain in their area contests. The rehearsal ended with a very relaxing ‘hot mulled wine and nibbles’ session to send us all off to prepare for Christmas. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
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In the middle of a particularly cold spell, a reasonable size audience where thrilled by this year’s Christmas musical offerings. A surprise set by our own Academy Band was also really well received. Beris, who is recovering from major surgery, introduced the presentation of the John Barry Memorial Shield which was presented to Debbie Kemp by Eddie.
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Returning to Martham for the 6th Remembrance Concert. Not too many changes from previous years apart from the Primary School is now an Academy and we have Eddie our new Director of Music. The children enrich the evening with their excellent singing and reading, all done with striking clarity.
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We were asked at short notice to play at this Charity event in Bawdeswell Village Hall to raise money for the Alzheimer.s Society. We joined bell ringers, a childrens dance group and a choir in an enjoyable afternoon and as you can see helped raise a lot of money. Ian Clarke conducted the band.
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It's Stalham and it's Christmas so it must be the annual R.A.F. Association's Christmas Concert. This was the 13th time we have held this concert. This year's concert brought the total raised since the start in 2004 to just over £9,000 which has been shared equally by R.A.F.A and the band.
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This was our second year running at the bandstand on Mousehold Heath in Norwich. A good crowd came to support the band. The location is great for access to the ice cream van but not so good for parking. Tom organized a meal at Zaks, just across the road, after the concert which most of the players attended
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