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Friary Diary - Issue 115 - September 2024

Tim Straker - PRO

Welcome to Friary Diary issue 115 - a monthly round up of news about the Friary Brass Band.


NATIONAL FINALS:

Friary put in a highly creditable performance of Peter Graham’s Harrison’s Dream at the  Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, to equal the Band’s best previous placing of 11th out of the 20 bands competing at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.  It was the Band’s tenth appearance in the Finals, with six placings of 12th or 11th since 2016.

 

Drawn to play 15th, there was a wait of some six hours until just before 4pm for Friary to take to the stage.  The two commentators on brass website 4barsrest were impressed with the performance, one even tipping Friary as a ‘dark horse’ for the top six.  The audience reaction, too, was highly positive.  The adjudicators – Prof. Rob Wiffin OBE, Dr. Stephen Cobb and Arsène Duc -  were slightly less enthusiastic, though, but still with some very complimentary remarks.

Band Chairman David Wicks was philosophical about the overall result: ‘Whilst it may be slightly disappointing only to equal our previous best, I believe that after significant rebuilding and successful filling of long-standing gaps, we are very much on an upward trend.’  ‘All the bands placed above us, bar one, are higher in the world rankings, and we left four higher ranked bands in our wake.  We have much to be proud of,’ he noted.

 

Warmest congratulations go to Flowers for lifting the title, to Foden’s and Black Dyke who completed the podium places, and also to our London & Southern Counties fellow contestants who came in 8th.


DEBUTANTS:

No fewer than seven players made their RAH debut last weekend.  Bass players Pat Donovan, Cat Whittingham-Smith and Chris Pearce, Kendall Skirving and Jack Beer on cornet, Glen Carroll on soprano and Peter Fewster on trombone were all excited at the prospect.  

 

‘Playing in the finals at the Albert Hall is definitely on the bucket list, really looking forward to playing on stage Saturday,’ commented Glen.  Jack added: ‘After being in and around the banding scene my whole life, it’s a great feeling to be able to do the Nationals at the RAH - hopefully the first of many!’  And perhaps the greatest thrill was for Pat who admitted: ‘I’ve been involved in the brass band world for 53 years and never believed I would make the stage at the RAH.   All my family are going, a dream come true … thank you Friary.’


RICHARD RUNS FOR PROSTATE CANCER:

Friary principal cornet Richard Straker – who celebrates 25 years with the Band this month - will be returning to South Kensington this coming Sunday, but this time in his running shoes rather than in the black patents worn for the National Finals.  Richard, who only started running 18 months ago, explains: ‘I’ve taken the plunge and entered my first race, the Royal Parks half marathon.  I’m raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK, a cause very close to our hearts in Friary,’ he went on.  

 

If you would like to spur Richard on, especially over the last few km’s, and support this very worthy cause, his fundraising page can be found here


BRITISH BANDSMAN CONCERT:

Just a reminder, tickets for our British Bandsman series concert  at Reading Town Hall on Saturday 19th October at 2.00pm are now on sale.  There’s a very varied programme, and we are delighted to be part of this prestigious concert programme.  Please support us if you can.  Please visit whatsonreading.com to book your tickets (£17.50;  under 18s £6).


CONCERT AT WOKING SALVATION ARMY:

Yes, it’s certainly concert season at the moment!  We are delighted to return to Woking Salvation Army again.  Please note that tickets for our concert on 26th October MUST be purchased in advance.  Please call 01483 793704 to reserve your place(s).  We hope to see you there.


RANKING NEWS:

As at 1st October, Friary stands at 30th in the world in the 4barsrest.com updated table.  In the brassstats.com table, Friary is ranked 28th.  We look forward to updates following the National Finals!

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