Watford Band

Congratulations go to back row cornet player Corin Frankel who has recently has gained her Grade 6 award - Well done Corin!

The band's upcoming concert on Saturday July 10th is hosted by Emmanuel Church in Northwood.

Great news - the training band is back in full swing.

The first rehearsal will be on Thursday 17th June from 7.00 to 8.00 p.m. at the BandHut, Lincolnsfield Centre. The band's chairperson, Sally Franklin, will be leading the rehearsal and the MD Richard Graves will be on hand to give his most valuable support.

The weekly rehearsals will build up to an appearance at the Annual Proms Concert to held at Christ Church in September.

Children from Bushey Grove and Little Green schools will be taking part together with others from the Watford and Hertsmere areas.
If you are interested please feel free and come along and have a blow. Age is not a restriction,just the willingless and commitment to be a regular attendee.

We are looking for a couple of trainee percussionists, preferably with some knowledge of the piano or keyboard.

The band have recently competed at Butlins Championship in Skegness.

The piece they performed was called Diamonds, composed by Tom Moss. The piece was based on what Tom Moss terms his little gems . The little gems being players he had met in the youth band scene in the St Helens region.

In any organisation there are those that complain about anything and nothing and usually sit on the fence when decisions have to be made. There are the one or two that end up carrying and fetching the “heavy stuff” to and from band jobs. There is usually one that does all the arrangement but is unable to please everyone.

However there is, if you are lucky, one or two gems of your own within the group.

At Watford Band we have some long-serving members and included in this category are two young ladies who joined the band when there were 14 and 10 respectively and have been ever present since.

The players in question are our two principal cornet players, Sharon Wells and Karen Dovey. They have continued to play throughout their teens, twenties and dare I say it, early thirties only taking time off for some maternity leave.

Sharon is from a family of teachers and qualified as an Accountant, a job she continued until just after the birth of her second child Katie. She is married to Ian who is also a brass player (Ware Brass) and also has a son Alex. Having given up her accountancy profession Sharon found she had more time to practice but playing the cornet did not help with the domestic budget. So what did she do! Became a baker – yes, she bakes cakes, and they are delicious. You can see her details on www.hertfordshirecupcakecompany.com

Next we come to Karen, not a baker but is from a family of butchers. Karen joined the band at the age of 10 and is a successful Insurance Broker in the City of London. She lives with Martin (Watfords ex MD) and has a 2 year old son, Harry. Prior to the arrival of Harry, Karen was a very active Committee Member. After Harry arrived Karen decided to work part-time and continues to juggle her busy family, business and social life so she can fit in with the band’s twice weekly rehearsals.

So there you have it Watford Band’s own "Diamonds" or as Tom Moss would put it "little gems”. Long may they continue with their cornet playing at Watford.

Following a very successful pre Christmas period of concerts and open air carol playing the band wish to thank all those customers of Tesco and the Harlequin Centre for their tremendous support.

The band wish all it supporters a Happy and Successful New Year.