The pandemic that visited us in 2020 meant that the Band had to temporarily suspend its activities. Clearly the restart - whenever it happens - is going to find circumstances much changed, both for the members of the Band individually and for us all collectively. It was therefore welcome news that Howard Evans is both willing and able to resume his role as Bandmaster from 1st February in order to help plot a course for the future.

It is only right that at this moment we say a huge "Thank You" to Deputy Bandmaster Kevin Whittingham for all the effort and hard work that he has put in during what has been a unique period of time in the Band's history.  When he assumed responsibility for the Band in the middle of 2019 he could not possibly have expected that the next months would turn out the way that they have.

We were fortunate in the weeks leading up to Christmas to occasionally get a few members of the Band together to play - appropriately distanced! - to a number of people who greatly appreciated the music.  As the country comes out of the national restrictions over the next few months we expect the Band to start to do this more regularly.

At present we cannot know exactly what the plan will look like - it depends very much on how the country deals with the pandemic over the coming months - but it is already clear that it will be some time before we will be operating as a full Band and back to some sort of "normal".  Howard and the Band Locals are already starting to look forward and will be working towards ensuring that this - the Band's 135th Anniversary Year - is the start of a new chapter in the Band's history book.

Welcome back Howard.