Many years ago, the Band started a "tradition" of having a special evening towards the beginning of the year when the Band reservists could come along and sit in on a rehearsal - giving them a reminder of what it was like to be part of the Band. This tradition has since grown into an open evening when anyone can come along - share some music - then some food and fellowship with the Band.

This year we again had somewhere around 100 folks come along to the Army to enjoy the evening. The programme was the usual mixture - some new music - some old favourites - this year including a special request for Eric Ball's King of Kings.  One of the other features of the evening is that it gives an opportunity for any of the youngsters who have been attending rehearsals to perform 'in public' with the Band for the first time.  Two proud fathers were therefore sharing the platform with their sons - Stephen Starkes and Oscar Randell - for the first time.

Turning to the other end of the age range and continuing a bit of a theme of special presentations at this annual event it was the turn of Keith Varley to receive his long service award - 60 years since he was made a Salvation Army Bandsman - well done Keith - and he is not finished yet!!

As always the evening ended with an enjoyable hour or so as those who had come were treated to an excellent and extensive selection of food in the Community Hall. The suspicion is that this is the main reason most of them attend

We are all already looking forward to the 2017 edition.

(and, just in case you don't believe me - here is Ramsay Caffull's review as submitted to SA Bandsman)

One of the highlights of Boscombe band’s year is always the ‘open rehearsal’ night, originally arranged for band reservists to remind them of what it used to be like to sit in a band rehearsal for some two hours in preparation for performances in Salvation Army worship meetings and concerts. The invitations to this special evening are now extended to a wider audience and this year saw a large number who came to enjoy an hour of good music followed by an ample supply of refreshments!

The evening opened with the hymn tune Lobe den Herren as a ‘warm up’ before the more serious fare which was to follow. Bandmaster Howard Evans explained that this was typical of how all rehearsals started - a hymn tune followed by a prayer. On this occasion Before the Throne (Andrew Wainwright) was chosen to precede the prayer led by Band Sergeant Craig Snell.

The Bandmaster had decided to provide a mix of old and new music to his discerning audience which he compered in his inimitable style. The old march Liberty (Gullidge) was therefore followed by the up-beat Glory Hallelujah written by Kevin Larsson. In all band rehearsals time is allowed for devotions led by one of the bandsmen. On this occasion Stuart Bulmer gave his helpful thoughts on the theme of commitment, which tied in suitably with the presentation of a Certificate and long service badge by Corps officer Major Ray Begley to Bandsman Keith Varley for his 60 years of dedicated service as a bandsman.

The cornet duet Synergy (Martin Cordner) was played with great panache by Craig Snell and Kevin Whittingham before two contrasting items concluded the evening - a moving performance of Light of the World (Dean Goffin) and the now little heard but still magical music of Eric Ball, King of Kings.

contributed by Lieut-Colonel Ramsay Caffull