THE NEWSLETTER OF CRYSTAL PALACE BAND

Issue: 13 (Autumn 2005)


Celebration Concert Saturday 22 October
A night to remember!
St.Georges Church, Beckenham
7.00pm
Tickets: £6 or £4 concessions
For tickets in advance contact Rachel (secretary. 020 8776 2520)
We will be playing a varied programme all with Roger in mind.
Those visitors needing overnight accommodation could try The Innkeeper’s Lodge in Beckenham nearby,
Phone:020 8650 2233. Room charges are very reasonable.


Thanks for the response to the survey and for the letters and email responses which came as a result. It really is nice to know that there are people out there. Do keep writing even if it is only a couple of lines.

Looking Back…
First of all a big thank you to all those who came along and listened at the bandstands this summer. It really helps us to play well when we have a large and enthusiastic audience. So you see we really do value your support and company.
During this last summer we have had fun playing some great concerts. We have enjoyed some really good venues and on the whole been lucky with the weather. Southwark Park made us really welcome and we thank them for their support. This was the first time we have played on this very impressive bandstand and we hope that we will be able to play there again. At Broadstairs it was a bright sunny day and though the wind caused us some anxious moments the crowd was large and enthusiastic. Greenwich, as always a long hard blow, but it was made easier by large numbers of people, many of whom stopped as they were passing by to listen to a few numbers before moving on. Kingston bandstand was well attended despite our cancellation there earlier in the year and at Herne Bay we were, as usual, greeted by a large and happy audience who helped us to finish the summer season in style.

.Looking Forward...


Saturday 22nd October
Celebration Concert in tribute to Roger Clements
Beckenham - 7.00 pm
Saturday 19th November Charity Concert, Banstead Village Hall, Time TBA
Saturday 3rd December Gala Concert, St Bartholomews's Church, Sydenham, 7 pm
Saturday 10th December Carol Concert, Sydenham Methodists, Wesley Hall, 6.30 pm
Sunday 11th December Horniman Garden Carol Concert, 4.30 fpr 5.00 pm start
Tuesday 13th December Parkinson Disease Annual Carol Concert Marylebone, 7 pm

I have already mentioned the Celebration Concert. We are really looking forward to greeting so many old friends both social and musical. It is going to be a remarkable evening in the history of the band. Certainly not one to be missed. The full programme for the evening is available on our website but here is a taster. Two Marches, The Contestor and Florentiner will begin the first and second halves respectively. That perennial favourite, Resurgam by Eric Ball, much loved by Roger will doubtless dominate the first half. We will also be featuring some more modern pieces and hearing Emma Gray’s wonderful singing. Plus we are to be joined by our guest pianist and friend Karl Lutchmayer in a performance of the Warsaw Concerto. See how varied the programme is, there is something for everyone.
The Gala concert is always well supported and we will once again be raising money for St Christopher’s Hospice, so do come along and lend us a hand. This year we will have the Gwalia Male Voice Choir singing along with us. Though we have accompanied them before this will be our first formal concert with them and we are looking forward to it.
The Carol Concerts in Sydenham and Horniman Gardens are always popular. The atmosphere is always wonderfully festive at both these venues and they are a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Christmas.

Congratulations and Welcomes.
Congratulations are in order for a few of our members. Firstly to one of our baritone players, Steve and his wife who have a new baby girl, Chloe born 5th August. Then to Joan Whitaker (cornet) and David Maher (bass trombone), two of our younger members who both passed their grade 5 music theory exam with impressive marks. Also congratulations and best wishes to Nicci Maher (2nd horn) on passing her A levels and gaining a place at University. Well done Nicci we will miss you. Hallo and welcome to our new players, whether they are staying or just passing through it is nice to have them with us

10th Anniversary
Celebrations for the B Band.

The first Decade
It all began in September 1995 and was then called the training band. One of our cornet players, Alan Ware, was keen to see that people could come along and play regardless of their ability and so with the aid of some hired cornets and about ten enthusiastic children the band was formed. William Spencer was their conductor for the first year and Alan remembers how patient he was when teaching them. Most had never played before and they ranged in age from five to fifteen years. They made good progress and some of their parents were inspired to join in and learn to play as well. Most played the cornet but by the end of the first year they also had a trombone, a baritone and a tenor horn player. They played their first concert in June 1996 in South Norwood.
Over the years the band has been conducted and trained by David Payn (1996-1997) and Stuart Jenkins (1997-1999).
For the last four years the group has been under the baton of Ian Whittaker. He took over a band that had few junior members and some able players it was for these reasons that he felt that the name Crystal Palace B Band would be more appropriate. Some players have progressed to play with Crystal Palace band and some have moved on and now play with other bands.
Margaret Larkin (who has been a member for some years) says “The past ten years has forged new friendships and a supportive network of fellow players willing to help each other out when necessary. The B band has given children and adults the opportunity to learn an instrument which is a wonderful thing in itself, enriched by the opportunity of borrowing an instrument”. The B band has joined with the main band when asked to play at some recent jobs. We have found the chance to sit in and play alongside the main band an invaluable experience. Our members have supported the main band by helping with equipment and serving refreshments at concerts”.
Ian says “We really need more school age players. We rely on a few good players to cope with what we play”. He is keen to welcome players of any age or ability and he is proud of the progress the band is making and is pleased that they are able now to play concerts at local functions giving the players purpose and aspiration.
So we look forward to another ten successful years. Well done the B Band!

My thanks go to Alan Ware, Ian Whittaker (Conductor, B Band) and Margaret Larkin (Secretary and member of the B Band) for their contribution to this article.

If you wish to contact the editor, please do so in one of the following ways:
e-mail Carol Maher at woal@btinternet.com OR phone 020 8699 7850 OR write 42,Winsford Road, Catford, London, SE^ 4LX
If you have a general band enquiry (e.g. you would like to join the band, or would like to book the band) please contact the Secretary, Rachel Bleach, on 020 8776 2520, OR mail@crystalpalaceband.co.uk OR visit our website www.crystalpalaceband.co.uk-.
The views expressed in this newsletter are the personal views of the Editor and are not necessarily those of the Crystal Palace Band.
No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any way, including on websites, without the express permission of the Editor. © October 2005