Happy new year

The band celebrated the life of it’s former chairman, Dick Ivory with a small group performing at his funeral on Monday 5 January. Serving players and ex players accompanied the hymns, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind and Jerusalem as well as playing some further hymns to friends and family who remained after the service.

Richard’s eldest son Stewart, former principal trombone with, the then Stantonbury Brass, joined with three of his ex pupils to play an arrangement of Londonderry Air for trombone quartet - one of Dick’s favourites.

Dick’s involvement with the band came aboutonce two of his sons, Stewart and Graham, became members of Stantonbury |Brass and hereadily accepted the position of chairman, fundraiser, compere and host particularly of theannual band barbecue, which together with his wife, Heather, they hosted in their garden. Nostranger to banding himself he played Bb bass with Hathersage Band and was a firm advocateof ‘wiggling’ the valves!

Even the ‘themed’ events didn’t put him off and as well as showing his knees for our Roman Barbecue he also donned the most amazing wizard’s hat for a Halloween special.

On a more serious note as well as compering our concerts, he joined us on our European tours and presented prizes for the Annual Solo Competition, the photo below shows Dick together with Alan Jenkin waiting to announce the eagerly anticipated results of the 1987 competition, when the solo prize was awarded to Andrew Greig.

Once Stewart and Graham moved on, Dick decided he would concentrate on other interests, he was Tower Captain in the belfry at St Mary’s church Wavendon and enjoyed gardening and began wood turning but he still maintained his interest in the band and attended further barbecues and concerts. Dick was delighted to be invited to the band’s 50 birthday celebrations and it was great to see him and to include him in our reunion photo - we send sincere condolences to Stewart, Ian, Graham, James and their families on the loss

of their father and to quote Stewart after the funeral, ‘there are no sad tears here - just lovely memories’

In a round up of other news, Olney Brass committed to playing at a variety of venues for their Christmas Season, new to this year we were delighted to be asked to play at Olney Meadows Retirement home, Sherington craft fayre (in the snow!) and Podington garden Centre where we were lucky enough to meet a very jovial santa - we are grateful to Colleen Wood (mum of Finn and Barney) who has taken photography to a new level this year.