The training band has its own update newsletter. Contact [email protected] if you’d like to be on the circulation list. Highlights: - 4 TB members participated in a workshop run by Fodens Championship Band last Sunday. Quite an experience for them! Our Euph. Player Christopher was sandwiched between the solo Euph from Black Dyke, and the solo Euph from Sellars during the final performance!! - A combined rehearsal and prize giving is planned for the 9th April with the main band. At Mickle Trafford Scout Hut from 6.30 ‘till late. Interested in learning more about either band just turn up. PS: The eBay support came about after the eBay category manager spotted something in the on-line profile that really ‘tickled his fancy’, have a look and see if you can spot what it was. Any non-band members guessing correctly will get a free eBay sticker and pen….. Wow!

The committee for the year is up and running, and recently agreed to try a flier insert into the Chester free paper to promote the band and seek out new players. We’re using one side of the flier – do you know a company that would like to use the other side, and be seen to support the band at the same time? Contact Ian for more info.

Last Monday the Training Band had their first opportunity to show the main band what they could do…. during a combined rehearsal held in Mickle Trafford Scout Hut. A great success, this will be repeated monthly – watch the web site and future bulletins for dates.

The website has now received more than 15000 visitors since it was launched on December 13th 1998. The visitors have come from over fifty countries from around the world including New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Colombia, Botswana, Tonga, Peru, Romania and Colombia. Visitors have also included several from the US military and various government visitors... last month (march) was our busiest month so far with just over 900 visitors to the site. Why not set us as your homepage? Click here... We've had a few up's and down's in the last few days, but our service provider says that the problems have been sorted out... so sorry if you couldn't get through!

On the web site (members only) there is a great area where on-line discussions are being held – such as the current favorite replacement band pub, etc. Check it out when you’re next on-line. Don’t forget also that the on-line polls are changed weekly, and used for anonymous feedback to the committee. Around 8 members participate, but we have many more on-line, so let’s get your comments and poll answers (and questions) now… If your having problems logging in, or are just generally confused let Philip know... For non-members, you can leave any comments or thoughts in our guest book; find it on the right hand menu bar on the home page. Members can leave comments too…

Letters and posters have now gone out to around 20 schools and shops in Chester, promoting vacancies in the Training Band. Let’s see how we get on. We’re looking for around 10 new players …. If you think you know of an interested groups or contacts we can chase, just let Ian know. [email protected]

We now have the full collection of registration card photos - past and present on the site! Just go to the pictures area, and select members pictures. If you've got photos of members before they reached Chester Band, why not pass them on to us - you can scan them and e-mail them if you want or contact us to make other arrangements - and we'll add them to the collection... :-) If you've got any pictures of the band out and about, including video and sound recordings - please contact us and we'll see if we can use them on the site! Just drop an e-mail to [email protected].

The social committee is looking at our first 2001 river cruise options – watch this space. They’re also looking to challenge another local band to 10 pin bowling or similar non-musical event….. any ideas to Paula or Sylvia.

Fancy playing with us?! We're looking for players in most areas for our main band - why not pop along and give it a go... try it for a night, a week, a month - upto you! Just turn up, and see what you think. We've got a few events coming up such as the beer festival, and Whit Marches, mixed in with our frequent social events. So why not give it a go! You can give Les a quick e-mail at [email protected] if your interested, and we'll give you more info. Rehearsals are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:45pm till about 10pm. So whether you haven't played for a while, want to run away from your current band, or are just passing by - why not come and give us a try! Everyone welcome...