The Band had the opportunity to witness to an almost full hall at the wedding of Andrew Main to our Songster Leader, Helen Batt. With both the bride and the groom linked to schools there were a lot of people who had never before had the opportunity to sample the atmosphere and the worship at an Army service. The Band provided music before and during the service.

The first 'special' engagement for the Band in 2012 was our annual night for our friends and, especially, our reservists. As usual we had a packed hall and those present got the usual mix of music old and new - and of course a hearty supper afterwards!!

In common with previous years, 2011 ended for the Band on Christmas morning with visits to Bournemouth and Christchurch hospitals. Christians Awake rang out in the foyer of Bournemouth Hospital at 10am and was followed by a whistlestop tour of many of the wards around the site. Following the customary mince pies and coffees a small number of the Band then went on to the MacMillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital where it is always a privilege to play for those who are far from well.

Of course, 2011 has been a very special one for the band as we celebrated our 125th Birthday - we each have had lots of new memories added to those from many previous years of banding - and we look forward to continuing the mission of this Band in 2012.

After missing out on this venue due to heavy snow in 2010 the Band was once again starting Christmas in Christchurch Priory with a programme that started with the traditional carol Gaudete and ended with Eric Ball's classic The Kingdom Triumphant.

The Priory Church was well filled and, as always, the music of Christmas seems particularly suited to the accoustic - none more so than Morten Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium. The audience (and the Band) left at the end knowing that the Christmas season had arrived once more.

Report on Anniversary weekend by Colonel Ramsey Caffull.