Thursday - Cornet sectional, 8pm to 9.30ish Mickle Trafford Methodist Church (on right by the Pelican crossing Friday Band room 8 till late Saturday - none Sunday Blackpool No 1 WMC, Bloomfield Rd, near to Blackpool FC 8.45 to 9.45am start note our draw is 9am for a potential 10am start emergencies try Ian on 07764 564 258

April 27th - The Town Hall, Chester In aid of the Breast Care Appeal, supported by The Chester Chronicle The City of Chester Band, together with The Chester Male Voice Choir More details to follow, but put the date firmly in the diary, and tell your friends!

Rehearsals will continue Mon/Fri being focussed upon the contest piece. Keep the Saturday 9th free for final session. Sectional are also being planned. Dates to follow.

No you've not got the wrong site! Checkout the Chester Chronicle this week, and you'll see 2 of our new contest players not only played in the Preston contest, but sped away to compete for the West Cheshire Athletics Club in a competition being held in Widnes straight after. We don't need to go into the Preston result.... but both Lauren Hunt (cornet), and Helen Clowes (baritone), scored points in their events (2nd in the A and B shot put, and 1st in the vertical jump), and their team has made it through to the finals! Let's hope it doesn't coincide with any more contests!

The events listing has been updated. Many events are provisional, and are to be confirmed. More events are likely so keep checking back. There WILL be mistakes - if you find one let Ian know on [email protected] Cheers

Our first outing in the 3rd section came to a slightly disappointing end in Preston Guild Hall today, with us being placed 12th of 13 bands. However, it was a good first contest for many of our band - especially the 6, yes 6 training band members who are part of the contest band - and it's a good basis on which to build for Blackpool! Training Band as usual Monday night, with a Friday rehearsal for main band.....

A coach is leaving the bandroom at 7am, picking up at Mickle Trafford at 7.15ish. It will return at around 4pm. We could be playing anytime from 10am, so if you're not on the coach, give yourself plenty of time. Venue details from Les. Coach is 6 pounds adults, 3 pounds fulltime students. Problems phone Ian 07764 564 258

OK the Preston contest is on Sunday, so it's the final push. Derek has arranged for the band to use the main hall at Queens School from 7.30 to 9.30 on Friday night. Meet at the band room at 7.15, 'cos we'll need to take stuff round!

So we’re on the way. The St Austell suite is being hummed across Chester – and beyond! Remember the contest dates are: Preston Feb 10th, and Blackpool Mar 10th, both Sundays. Transport arrangements for the events are still being finalized, and details will follow later – but we would really like to see as many supporters and hangers-on as possible at both events! If you’ve never been before, don’t worry, it’s an experience you won’t forget. And it really helps the band performance when an audience full of supporters is there to cheer them on! Even better is the opportunity to travel on the official coach! More of that in the next e-news, coach options for Preston are still being evaluated, but there will certainly a coach for the Blackpool event. For more details of timings and costs wait for the next e-news, and then sign-up for the day. Note that non-players will have to pay for an entrance ticket to the event which can be bought on the day. Both contests are on a Sunday, and there’s usually lots going on as well, as time for an ‘orange juice’ or three.

The TB membership now stands at 25! Thanks to the main band financing 3 instruments and additional mouthpieces we’re just keeping pace, but we are really short and would appreciate any instrument ‘donations’ – check your loft, your friends loft, your grannies shed…. Condition not an issue; we have the technology (Rob Fletcher does anyway!). Our players: 10 cornets/trumpets, 1 flugel, 4 horns, 3 baritones, 3 euphoniums, 3 trombones, 1 percussion. Just need a volunteer to play our TB Bass to complete the line-up. A good turn out at the first beginners session on Monday. The new starts are chasing hard! Don’t miss the second session next Wednesday. All TB members are invited to sit-in with the main band as detailed below. The first sit-in, last week, went really well, conducted by Phil M.