Fixtures 2002/2003
Sunday 15 December Carols at Horniman Gardens,
Forest Hill, 4.30 pm
Friday 20 December Carols at The Glades,
Bromley (in aid of the Children's Society)
7.30 - 9.00 pm
Sunday 22 December Carol Concert at Sydenham
Methodist Church, 6.00 pm
Sunday 5 January Epiphany Concert, St Michael's
Church, Sydenham, 4.00 pm
Dates for your Diary
SCABA Quarter/Ensemble Contest, Lewes (16
February); L&SC Regional Contest, Stevenage
(15 March); SCABA Spring Contest, Hove Town
Hall (13 April); Southend Brass Band Contest
(1 June); Hever Castle, Edenbridge (29 June);
Old Coulsdon Village Fair, Grange Park (12
July); MENCAP Summer Fete, Angus House, Cudham
(19 July)
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ROGER CLEMENTS - A PROFILE
This issue of Palatians sees the first in
a series of profiles on key members of the
Band, starting with Roger Clements, the Band's
Chairman and Principal Euphonium player
..
Roger's musical career began when he played
percussion in a Boys Brigade Drum & Fife
Band which his father and uncle taught in.
However, at the tender age of 10 he joined
the Crystal Palace Band on Second Baritone.
John Hinckley was Roger's tutor in the band
and despite a lack of "formal"
training, Roger progressed throughout the
band, graduating to Solo Euphonium in 1982.
Since then, Roger has played alongside many
conductors - his first being Charles Sheriff,
but most noticeably James Watson and Derek
Greenwood.
Roger counts 'rising to the dizzy heights
of Chairman' as his greatest achievement
in the band. But this was no mean feat. In
the 70s the band's membership dwindled to
a few players and it was only thanks to the
dedication of people like Roger that it remains
to this day. However, his dedication paid
off, and the band played on. Roger is also
the Representative of Southern England for
the Federation of Brass Bands, and was recently
elected onto the SCABA Executive Committee.
He also organises the annual Band Trip, the
highlight of the Band's year!
Roger's favourite contest venue is Symphony
Hall in Birmingham, but says that his most
memorable contest was the year that CPB won
the Second Section SCABA contest at Folkestone
with "Henry The Fifth". However,
his favourite contest piece is the 'Carnival
Romaine' by Berlioz, and is proud to own
a copy of the euphonium part autographed
by Trevor Groome, his boyhood hero.
Of his 45 years in the band, Roger's proudest
moment is the Gala Centenary Concert, held
in October 2001 to celebrate Crystal Palace
Band's 100th anniversary. At the concert
a cheque for £1,500 was presented to St Christopher's
Hospice (based in South London), a culmination
of the band's fundraising efforts throughout
the year. It is largely because of his commitment
and enthusiasm (and his wife Janet's patience!)
that the Band continues - Roger Clements,
we salute you!
PALATIONS ISSUE 2
If you wish to contact the editors, please
do so via the following ways:
friendsofcrystalpalaceband@hotmail.com or
Clare Lipscombe, tel. 020 8655 2511
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 riz.bleach@btinternet.com - or visit the
website, www.crystalpalaceband.fsnet.co.uk
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