Although Easter is always a special time at Boscombe - as it is for Christians everywhere - the nature of the annual convention is such that whilst the message remains the same - the delivery of that message changes from year to year.  In 2013 it was our pleasure to welcome our friends from Oslo, Norway, the Templet Hornorkester.  The Band had visited Oslo Temple in 2011 at the end of our scandinavian tour and were pleased to renew friendships with them.

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The annual open rehearsal was - as always - well attended and gave the members of the Band Reserve and other friends of the Band an opportunity to hear music old and new. Included in the programme this year was an 'auction' for an opportunity to take the place of our Bandmaster and conduct the Band in a march - This proved so popular that there were three winners - and therefore three marches - Bernard Snell, Ramsay Caffull and Andrew Main all winning the chance to experience just what it is like to stand in front of our Band.

The Sunday Concert by the Band took the congregation on a journey of readings, songs and band items around the theme of Lent.  The programme was excellently put together by our Bandmaster and offered plenty of opportunity for our Sunday Evening congregation to join in with the singing.

We also formally welcomed Lee Allcock into the bass section. Lee has been at a few rehearsals since the start of the year and now is moving down with his family to Bournemouth. We hope that Lee enjoys his service with the Band.

At the conclusion our CO, Major Ray Begley, combined a benediction with a prayer for our Bandmaster, Howard - and we would ask that, as he starts treatment tomorrow, you would also pray for him in the coming weeks and months.

The Band's first concert of 2013 was in partnership with the Bournemouth Male Voice Choir under their Musical Director Mark Burstow.  Although the concert was a "home" event for the Band it was organised and arranged by Pokesdown Corps in order to raise funds for The Big Collection.

The programme consisted of a varied mix of music from classical to popular and included a number of "first performances" for the band as the repertoire has changed at the start of the year, including Paul Hindmarsh's realisation of the Chorale Prelude on French by Wilf Heaton and three movements from Karl Jenkins' Stabat Mater.

It is now just over one week to Christmas Day and the Band have been just as busy as ever this year. In common with many Salvation Army bands we are in great demand for events in the Corps, in the community and in local Churches.

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