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Dark Side of Bedworth
20 - 3 - 2008
8th March. Syston Band and its supporters, blinking in the early morning light, left Syston for Bedworth and the Midlands Area Championships. After several months spent practising one test piece this was the day we had been working towards.
We arrived at the practise room a bit late, as the M6 was not being kind, but we still had a good warm up, complete with juggling and cabaret – provided gratis by chairman Kevin Pacey, and then waited to find out the result of the draw to tell us what spot we would be playing. It was with mixed feelings that we heard we were to have the ‘honour’ of opening the proceedings and play number 1. We took to the stage at 11am and played the National Anthem before the adjudicator signalled that we could start to play the test piece, 'Dark Side of the Moon'.

The Band played well – it had been hard work to actually get to the contest this year but we had made it. Many weeks of practise were over by 11.15am – all that was then left to do was wait until 16 other bands had played the same piece before the results would be announced. When the results were announced it was a bit of a disappointment to see we had not done as well as we had hoped. We would not be competing in the Finals – but there is always next year!

The Band had put in a lot of hard work to actually take part in this contest – from getting players to join the band, rehearsing the music as well as all the ‘back stage’ work that getting 25+ people plus kit to Bedworth together on a Saturday morning requires. The Band would like to thank everyone who helped to get Syston Band to the Area contest this year – both players and supporters. Several of the players from the Training Band took part in the Area Contest with the Senior Band. It is very encouraging to see the progress that these young players make and the Senior Band would especially like to thank those players from the Training Band for their invaluable contribution to the recent appearance at the Area contest.

Thanks must go especially to Dennis Powell who put in a lot of work and took the stage to conduct with pride and did a superb job. Nice suit too, Dennis!
With the Area contest behind us, the Senior Band is now starting to rehearse for the summer season of engagements.

Syston Band 2007 Christmas Address.
19 - 12 - 2007
‘Time flies’ as they say, and as we sat down for Saturday night’s Christmas Concert it hardly seemed a year since the last one, even though so much has happened during the last twelve months. Friend’s of the Band will be aware that 2007 has not been the best year in Syston Band’s history. The departure of our former MD, coinciding with the loss of a number of players due to ill health and for work, education and family commitments, had left us rather thin on the ground. Our new MD, Dennis Powell, stepping manfully into the breach, then experienced health problems of his own (from which, we are delighted to say, he is now fully recovered). In consequence 2007 was the first time in many years that Syston did not compete in the Regional Championships.

But that was then, and this is now. ‘Reports of our death’, as they also say, ‘are greatly exaggerated’. The Band is looking forward to 2008 with optimism. Membership is increasing, enthusiasm is high, Dennis is raring to go, next year’s programme is already filling up, and plans are well underway for the 2008 Regional.

This could not have been achieved without the help of family, friends and supporters, and the Band is glad to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and encouragement, and to wish you all…


A Happy Christmas and a Peaceful, Prosperous and Harmonious New Year.