Welcome to Friary Diary issue 130 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. NIGEL TAKEN STEPS DOWN AS MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Nigel Taken is stepping down as our MD at the end of the year.  Band Chairman David Wicks commented: ‘We would like to thank Nigel for his strong commitment and detailed guidance over the past two and a half years, in particular for leading the Band to our recent success at the Wessex BBA contest.  We wish him well for the future.’ The Band h

Nigel Taken is stepping down as MD of Friary Brass Band at the end of the year. Band Chairman David Wicks  commented: ‘We would like to thank Nigel for his strong commitment and detailed guidance over the past two  and a half years, in particular for leading the Band to our recent success at the Wessex BBA contest. We wish him  well for the future.’   The Band will shortly be starting the recruitment process for a new musical director.

The Hogs Back Brewery annual Christmas concert A busy few days for Friary players saw the Band returning to the Hog’s Back Brewery – only a few miles from the Friary’s brewery roots in Guildford - for the annual carol concert.  Revellers were in fine voice, possibly lubricated by the products on offer, joining in carols and, by special request, Bohemian Rhapsody.  ‘Absolutely fantastic, Christmas has started,’ commented one audience member. The previous day, a small contingen

Friary's haul of trophies Friary’s trip to Bournemouth for the Wessex BBA contest last Saturday turned out to be a sunny day at the seaside, with the Band and individual players netting a bucketful of awards for their performances of ORB (march) and A Brussels Requiem (own choice test piece).   As well as Friary winning Best March and Best Test Piece, there were awards for MD Nigel Taken for Best Musical Direction, and for brothers Richard and Chris Straker for Best Cornet an

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 129 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. FRIARY REMEMBERS: With several of its current and former players in HM Forces, Remembrance has  particular significance for Friary, and the Band as well as a number of individuals were heavily involved in ceremonies on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, and at the Royal Albert Hall on the previous Saturday. As usual, Friary led the Sunday parade in Guildford from Holy Trinity Church

Eagle-eyed viewers of ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and ‘Loose Women’ programmes may recently have spotted Friary players performing live alongside presenter Jeff Brazier as part of the channel’s launch of their ‘Win Christmas’ competition.  Band Secretary Lauren Straker explains:  “We performed at a similar event three years ago with Gok Wan so we were thrilled to be invited back again.”  “With ‘Good Morning’ regularly attracting around 700,000 viewers daily, I think it’s safe to say

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 128 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. LEWES BONFIRE PARADE: Amid fireworks, effigies and tableaux, Friary Brass Band marched through  the streets of Lewes, East Sussex on 5 th  November, once again entertaining the thousands of spectators at the town’s historic Bonfire Night celebrations.  Believed to be the largest event of its kind in the UK, it not only remembers the 1605 'Gunpowder Plot' but also the town’s 17 Protesta

photo: Michelle Presley With several of its current and former players in HM Forces, Remembrance has particular significance for Friary, and the Band as well as a number of individuals were heavily involved in ceremonies on Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, and at the Royal Albert Hall on the previous Saturday. As usual, Friary led the Sunday parade in Guildford from Holy Trinity Church to the Castle Grounds, with Richard Straker playing the Last Post and Reveille.  Simon

Amid fireworks, effigies and tableaux, Friary Brass Band marched through the streets of Lewes, East Sussex, once again entertaining the thousands of spectators at the town’s historic Bonfire Night celebrations.  Believed to be the largest event of its kind in the UK, it not only remembers the 1605 'Gunpowder Plot' but also the town’s 17 Protestant martyrs who were burnt at the stake during religious persecutions in the reign of Queen Mary.  Each one is commemorated by a fiery

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 127 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. A NEW FACE AND THE RETURN OF A FAMILIAR ONE FOR FRIARY: Friary is pleased to announce two new signings, Joe Latham on tenor horn and Nigel Winter on cornet, who returns after an absence of six years. Nigel began playing the cornet aged eight, joining the Camberley Silver Junior Band after taking lessons from Gerallt Hughes, its conductor and a local school music teacher.  Progression i

Our warmest congratulations go to our principal tenor horn player and military musician, Morgan Marston and his bride Chloe, who tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in North Wales on 6th September.  Chloe - an opera singer, youth choir conductor and teacher – and Morgan first met while studying at the Guildhall where a chance encounter in the student union sparked their relationship. Now happily married, they’re looking forward to a big honeymoon adventure in 2026 — and per

Friary is pleased to announce two new signings, Nigel Winter on cornet, who returns after an absence of six years, and Joe Latham on tenor horn. Nigel began playing the cornet aged eight, joining the Camberley Silver Junior Band after taking lessons from Gerallt Hughes, its conductor and a local school music teacher.  Progression into the main band followed and he played there for 14 years moving onto flugel horn in the latter years.  After a short break, he joined the Friary

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 126 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. GOODBYE TO JANE: No, I don’t mean the 1972...

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 125 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. MEMORY LANE: Well, July was what could best...

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 124 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. SUMMER SERENADE AT ST NICOLAS - TEA FOR TWO...

photo: Shirley West Friary cornet player Simon Persin was again part of Guildford’s flag-raising ceremony to mark Armed  Forces Week on...

Amongst the 400 musicians taking part in the recent King’s Birthday Parade were Friary players Jack Beer (cornet) and Morgan Marston...

Recent concertgoers at St Nicolas Church, Great Bookham were treated to Friary Brass Band’s broad programme of music, ranging from the...

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 123 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band. GRAND SHIELD CONTEST REVIEW: Sadly, it was...

A sunny Sunday afternoon in the park, family picnics on the grass, cattle grazing in the nearby meadow by the river, and a brass band...