Running up to the two contests Feb 10th and Mar 10th, the Wednesday night rehearsal is cancelled. the following is the new days (more detailed sectionals etc to follow): Mondays Concert-stuff general rehearsal, Main band plus TB experts until 9pm Friday Starting Fri 11th Jan Contest rehearsal - full contest band..... Don't miss it! Sundays Sectional by arrangement Training Band is unaffected, and remains on Monday at 1830pm Mickle Trafford Scout Hut

Both Training Band and Main Band start on Monday 7th January 2002. TB at 6.30pm - 7.30pm Mickle Trafford Scout Hut Main Band 7.45pm at the band room. A committee meeting was held last week to discuss potential rescheduling of rehearsals leading up to the contest on Feb 10th and March 10th. This will be proposed at the Main Band rehearsal, so be there if you want your say.

Mickle Trafford Scouts (our Training Band hosts) are holding a fun race night on Feb 2nd. There will be a bar, and the opportunity to have a great time. For tickets contact [email protected] . They're also looking for race sponsors at 25 pounds per race - go on give it a go!

We've now obtained 5 nearly new cornets from Dawsons, thanks to the award of 900 pounds from the National Foundation for Youth Music, together with 100 pounds from the band and TB. These are destined both for current new starts, and potential new starts during 2002. We'll be publicising the award and purchase over the next month, and use it as a recruitment exercise. We've now 24 regular players at TB, but can take more in. We take all ages so if you're interested in playing, or getting back to playing, just come along on a Monday evening at 6.30pm to Mickle Trafford Scout Hut, School Lane. For info email [email protected]

The New Year has started in a very leaky way. The flat roof on the lower part of the band room has failed in several areas. It will have to be patched, and then replaced once the better weather is around. It's a very large area..... This is going to cost big bucks! Anyone with contacts, money, advice, a roofing ocmpany who would like to help a brass band! Contact us asap.....

Xmas Eve saw 10 hardy players (mixture of main and TB players), in Tescos for a final pre-Xmas thrash. They played in 2 sessions from 12.15 until 2pm, when the lips could manage no more..... Great venue though - - thanks to Tescos! The collection was split between the main and TB, and will enable both bands to buy some new springtime music. Thanks to the players, and a special thanks to the collectors - without collectors the money just doesn't come in!

On December 26th (boxing day) the ChesterBrass site will be unavailiable for about 6 hours, while our service provider GhoulNet moves there servers from Nottingham to London. Once they are back online, you should find the system is generally alot faster. See there site for more information. This will affect both the website and members using [email protected] e-mail address's.

A small group of main band players will be in Tescos playing from 12.15 on Monday. Following our success with the TB on Saturday, this is one to recommend - it's warm!! Give Ian a call if you can make it.... Collectors most welcome, 'cos we've got alot of tills to cover!

Yep it was a warm afternoon at Tescos in Chester. Also on Saturday, the TB, with some main band support, played inside Tescos for a couple of 45 minute sessions. This worked really well, and we'll get our application in for other sessions during 2002. A collection of 62 pounds was raised, which will start us nicely into 2002 with new music. Thanks to everyone who turned up, and a special thanks to Donna for dragging the stands along!

Slaloming around the miriad ranks of charity collectors in Chester on Saturday 22nd, a small group of players braved the biting cold to serenade Chester shoppers with jolly carols. Several passers by commented that it was a nice change to hear 'real' and 'live' music, instead of taped Xmas 'stuff'. A small (as yet uncounted) collection was made thanks to a couple of hardy collectors. Most fingers had turned blue long before our 11.45 finish, but we were there...