CHRISTMAS RAFFLE WINNERS
A huge thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets, we have raised £1000.00 to fund music and equipment for both bands!
Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year!
In recent years our players have done some tremendous work to help raise money for various charities and “good causes”, far too many to mention all of them, but we have been delighted to perform in many concerts to raise much needed funds in each case.
This year alone, we have been involved in concerts in Ayr Race Course, Hollybush, Bellsbank, Stewarton, Brig O’Doon in Ayr, Doon Academy and, the most recent, in the Community Centre in Dalmellington on Sunday 24th October, when we helped raise over £1,300 for Lorna Dempsey’s Butterfly Events, in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Our Patrons turned out, in great style, to help fill the Community Centre on October 24th and were treated to a super concert featuring Dunaskin Doon Band, conducted by John Boax, Dalmellington Band, conducted by Raymond Tennant, Cumnock Highland Dance School and the Denise Baillie Dance Group. An audience, of around 170, thoroughly enjoyed the varied entertainment and, at the end, a cheque for £1,304 was presented to Lorna, on behalf of Cancer Research UK and further cheques for £45 were sent from two of our Patrons, following the concert a fantastic effort from everyone concerned and our Patrons contributed most of the total amount raised, with donations of £368 sent from Patrons who were unable to attend the concert once again, your generosity was tremendous and, on behalf of everyone connected with Dalmellington Bands, I give you our very sincere thanks you make us very proud to be part of this huge “family” of friends here in Dalmellington! A huge thanks to all the performers at the concert, a great night.
Gus Cochrane & Bert Ritchie present cheque to Lorna Dempsey
SCOTTISH OPEN & YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Senior Band took part in the Scottish Open Contest on Saturday 20th November
taking 11th place, out of 15 band. The test-
Our Senior players had rehearsed the piece very well for a number of weeks prior to the contest and were conducted by professional Alan Morrison, producing a decent performance, but it was just not our day and we were disappointed with our final placing!
YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
Our Junior Band, conducted by Ian Taylor, were awarded a “silver” award and 3rd place out of 4 bands in the Senior Section of the Scottish Youth Championships, also in Perth Concert Hall, after delivering a first class performance of their 20 minutes concert programme. The same youngsters took 1st prize in the Brass in the Park championships in the same section back in September, so they were very disappointed with their placing in Perth.
The programme featured our current under 12s Scottish Champion, Cornetist Rebecca Wilson, who performed a great rendition of “Little Prayer”.
The juniors can be very proud of their performance, as witnessed by many of their parents and friends who were there in the hall.
The senior band put in a really good performance of the test piece Paganini Variations,
conducted by Richard Evans, at the Scottish Championships in Perth Concert Hall on
Sunday 27th February and were awarded 6th place, for the third year in a row, by
adjudicators Stan Lippeatt and Lt. Col. Graham Jones. Once again, we had no “luck”
with the draw as we were drawn to play number 2, following the defending champions
Co-
The only consolation was that we beat the bands we had to beat to survive in the elite championship section for another year, but it is becoming more and more difficult each year!
Whitburn Band, delighted their new sponsors and took the title this year with a top
class performance and thoroughly deserved their victory over their great rivals Co-
The full results were:-
1st ….. Exchange Communication Whitburn Band – 193 points
2nd ….. Co-
3rd ….. Lochgelly Band – 190 points
4th ….. Kirkintilloch Band – 189 points
5th ….. Kingdom Brass Band – 188 points
6th ….. Dalmellington Band – 187 points
7th ….. Newtongrange Silver Band – 186 points
8th ….. Bo’ness & Carriden Band – 185 points
9th ….. Unison Kinneil Band – 184 points
10th ….. Bon Accord Silver Band – 183 points
Lochgelly Band gave the “surprise” performance of the day, playing a number of new players brought in for this contest, including Glen Van Looy the European Euphonium Champion and, it paid off as they took 3rd place at this important event.
We also had to bring in a new cornet player Phil Tait, from England, to fill a long standing vacancy in our front row and we live in hope that we can fill our current cornet section vacancies with permanent quality players who will help us maintain our championship section status!
Many years ago Robert Dunn, a very accomplished and popular baritone player with our senior band, decided to go and work as a “Scouser” in Liverpool and he and Louise ( his better half ) took to the M6 to work in Local Government.
You may have read recently about the terrible troubles facing Councils up and down the country ….. well, we can assure all Patrons that Liverpool’s plight was not caused by Robert!!!!!!!
Robert just happened to retire at the same time as Liverpool Council FAILED!? A pure and utter coincidence!
The good news is that Robert and Louise have moved back to Prestwick and Robert has been tempted back to the band in time to play with us at the Grand Shield in Blackpool. If we don’t win that one, I’m sure we will not blame Robert!?!?!?
ALTERNATIVE UNIFORM FOR THE SENIOR BAND!
As our junior players will look fantastic going to Manchester in April, for their
national finals, sporting their new logo-
Our players looked absolutely stunning when they took to the stage and we received many complimentary remarks from members of the audience.
Perhaps, if we had paid a wee bit more, we could have got waistcoats that could play instruments!?
JIMSY MCPHAIL 20/11/1924 – 14/4/2011
Members of Jimsy’s family were devastated at his death in Ayr Hospital on April 14th and they have been extremely grateful for the hundreds of messages, cards and flowers received since his death. Patrons have given great comfort to the family during this sad time.
Concert goers will remember Jimsy and his pal – Wullie Kennedy checking the tickets
at the door for all our concerts in Dalmellington -
Jimsy had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2010 and we are all so grateful that he had almost a full year of reasonable health with his family and friends and he certainly made the most of his time with us as he travelled all over the country on wee trips, thoroughly enjoying every minute in various venues nationwide!
Nancy, Elizabeth, Calum, Bert, Jamie and Claire organised a wee “farewell do” in our band hall, in memory of Jimsy and, the family would like to thank band members who helped serve a full house.
Members of the band played for the mourners in Dalmellington Church and even managed
to play one of Jimsy’s (and Elizabeth’s) favourite tunes ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ -
Jimsy was a life-
Jimsy was also a dedicated Treasurer and Committee Member for over twenty years.
Jimsy was a great family man who had many true friends, from the Hodges in Logan to his pal Eddie in Dalmellington and he recently enjoyed his latter years with his new “instant family of three” Robson, Katie and wee Justin who are Claire’s family.
Claire and Jamie (Jimsy’s Grandson) were married on Saturday 23rd July and our huge regret is that Jimsy didn’t manage to hang on for their big day. He was sadly missed then and will be sadly missed for many years to come – A Much Loved and True Gentleman!
Congratulations to Graeme (McCulloch) and Alison (O’Donnell) on the birth of their baby son – Max. Max was born on April 25th at a healthy 7.5 pounds a big bundle of joy!
Fingers crossed that Max becomes as good at the cornet as his DAD or as good at the baritone as his MUM or as good at the Pie Eating as his PAPA!! Come on MAX ….. we cant wait!!