Review of 2011
This year has had it's ups and downs for the band. Alan celebrated his 25th year in charge of the band, we have seen some of the most enjoyble social events with the band for a long time, had an indifferent year on the contesting front, played at many enjoyable and varied events all year and tragically lost a serving member of the band.
Events
The band has continued to fulfill all the ceremonial requirements for the MOD (RAF) St Athan. On top of this the band has performed at a number of events throughout the year, highlights being the concert with PADOS in The Pavillion in Porthcawl, playing a key role in the Armed Forces Day in Cardiff and playing for the Eisteddfod Proclamation Ceremony in Barry. The band have also played at over 25 Christmas engagements from packed churches to climbing over muddy fields to play carols in a ruined castle! As always, it has been an interesting a varied year on the playing front.
Contesting
This year has been relatively disappointing on the contesting front. Despite a promising run up to the Area's, a very nervy performance on the day saw the band place low and leaves us in a situation where even a first place in March may well see the band demoted. However, the band has continued to build the performances in the local Championship section and ended the year with the best performance yet which sees the band gradually climbing up the placings.
This year saw the band taking part in the Royal National Eisteddfod in North Wales and also in the inaugural lower section CISWO Miner's Eisteddfod in Porthcawl. The band took a creditable 3rd place in both competitions. Theses are results upon which the band hopes to improve next year (especially when the Eisteddfod will be on our "manor" as it is being held some five minutes drive from the bandroom in Llandow!)
Goodbyes
As is the case with any organisation, we said a sad goodbye to a number of players this year.
Norman Partridge decided to retire from banding in 2011.
Victor Partridge also decided to take a break from playing when his Dad retired. We hope that Victor will return soon.
Rachael Lewis is taking an extended break from playing. Again, we hope to see her back around the stand when she is ready to return.
Cam Hughes left the band to concentrate on his exams and playing the French Horn. We wish him well in the future.
Abbi Stone successfully completed her studies at Cardiff University and we wih her well with her future endeavours.
Derrick White also retired at the begining of 2011 and we had a celebration with him in February. Fortunatley, although he has reduced the number of events he performs with the band, he still helps out when he can.
Sadly, in the Summer, David Gordon passed away suddenly. And as always, the Band's thoughts are with the Gordon Family at this time.
Hellos
On a brighter note, we have had a number of new players strengthen the band's ranks this year:
Mary Light joined on 2nd Horn and then moved up to 1st Horn.
Ciaria Costello joined on EEb Bass.
Jacob Cooper joined on Trombone.
Matthew Jones joined on percussion.
Tim Pickles joined on 2nd Horn.
Dan Lewis joined on bass trombone.
Tim West joined on back row cornet.
Tomos Evans also joined on the back row.
Wyn Howells joined the band on the front row.
Charlie Lewis joined on 1st Horn (and then left for a year out in Italy! - we look forward to her return in the next academic year)
Players
We would also like to thank our friends who have regularly helped out the band. Namely, Steve Davis on BBb bass, Steve Jones on Solo Horn and his wife Diane Jones on cornet and Katy Thomas, John Harris and John Foley also on cornet. We would also like to thank Michael Caress who travelled from Gloucestershire on numerous occasions to play Solo Horn. Thankfully, this rekindled Mike's enjoyment of playing and we wish him well with his new band, Brunel Brass. We would also like to congratulate Mike and Mel on their engagement - Mel has already experienced what it is like to be a band widow (with Mike's regular appearances with the band) so I am sure she will cope well in the future.
Looking Forward
2012 will see the band building on the hard work of 2011, although it will not be without its challenges, the band is a firm believer in the RAF motto of "Per Ardua Ad Astra" or for the non Latin speakers amongst us "Through Struggle To The Stars" and will be doing it's utmost to overcome the challenges being faced and triumph in the face of adversity.
With this in mind, there have already been changes made to the playing ranks with Laura Hindley moving from Flugel Horn to Solo Horn and Lewis Hindley reprising his long standing role as Principle BBb Bass with Chris Halliday and Ciaria Costello on EEb Bass. This still leaves some re-arranging to be done to complete the strengthening of the band, but it will hopefully prove a good start to the band's campaign for a place representing Wales at the National Finals in Cheltenham in September.
We have two contests to prepare for in the early part of the year as well as a concert in Llandaff Cathedral and a planned Easter 2012 tour. With The Royal National Eisteddfod being held in Llandow this year, plans are afoot to be able to compete in some of the ensemble competitions as well as the main brass band event. Oh and there are weddings, fetes, christenings etc etc and only 11 months till we start playing Christmas music again!!
Happy New Year!
Annual Awards 2011
This year the band held their Christmas Dinner and annual awards at the RAF St. Athan Golf Club on Saturday 17th December. The event was well attended by band members past and present. This was already halfway through the band's busy Christmas season, which saw the band perform at about 25 events throughout Cardiff, the Vale and Bridgend.
This being Alan's 25th Christmas in charge of the band, he was heard to say that it was a far cry from his first Christmas dinner of pizza in the RAF Rugby Club!
This year the band were joined by the Station Commander, Wing Commander Paul Regan, and his wife. Wing Commander Regan gave a very enjoyable speach before presenting the awards to the players that received the most votes from all the playing members of the band:
Most Promising Young Player (Under 18)
This year the award went to Chris Gordon. Chris plays 2nd Baritone with the band and joined his father and sister in the senior 
band after a period playing with the youth band. Desite this year being a particularly difficult one for the whole Gordon family, Chris' playing has improved greatly in the year (his teacher, Alice Jones, taking all the credit on the night in Chris' absence!) and he has become a very valued member of the Euph/Bari bench.
Band Personality
It was shown again, despite popular opinion, that baritone players do have a personallity. This year it was the turn of the band's 
1st Baritone player, Ian Tomlinson, to win the Band Personality award (for the second time). Ian is always ready to enjoy a laugh and will whole heartedly enter into any social occasion to ensure that all have a good time.
Most Improved Player
2011 has seen an influx of new players to the band and this year's receipient of the most improved players, was one of those players. Tim Pic
kles joined the band in time to compete at the National Eisteddfod on 2nd Horn. This is all the more remarkable as Tim only started playing the Tenor Horn a few months earlier. Tim is a French Horn player and was convinced to give the Tenor Horn a go. As he was heard to say, playing French Horn really doesn't help play the Tenor Horn! Tim has worked really hard this year and the results are clear, he fully deserves the most improved player award.
Player of the Year
This is the most prestigious awards and is always carefully considered by the band. Not for the first time Alice Jones was awarded the player of the year. Alice previously won the award in 2009, that time as the bands 2nd Baritone player, this year 
Alice received the award as the band's Principal Euphonium. Alice was given only 2 weeks to prepare to play in this seat for the Area's with the famous Euphonium cadenza in Resurgam to look forward to. Later in the year Alice performed a solo at the two entertainment contests (and various concerts) all from memory and finished the year with a great performance of London Overture, which also has a Euphonium cadenza. In just over 9 months on the instrument, Alice's hard work has ensured that she fully deserved this award and all that practice at playing cadenzas should make Cross Patonce a walk in the park at this years Area!!
Special Award
This year there was a special award made to one of the Band's players who sadly decided to hang up his cornet for good in 
2011. Norman Partridge decided to stop playing after an illness resulted in a short stay in hospital. Thankfully, Norman has recovered and was able to join the band at the dinner. In fact, Norman and his wife Millie, were able to enjoy the many dinners that the band play at over the Christmas period! Alan thanked Norman for his time with the band and stated that his only regeret was that he had not got Norman to join sooner so we could have benefited from his years of experience for longer. The band would like to wish Norman a long and healthy retirement.
Band Bucket
This year's award for the most spectacular pavement pizza of the year was hotly contested with the largest field of nominees. 
Again there was a vom-off but, unusually, Kelly Rowlands stepped up and argued that she should receive the bucket and so was awarded this special award. Even though Kelly plays for Ogmore Band, she has played in the band's drum corp this year so was fully eligible for the award - the main reason she was happy to receive the award was because it would make a great holder for the bottles of beer on ice to avoid all those trips to the fridge!!
