Brass band members have been celebrating after winning a top spot at a national competition.
Aldbourne Band came third in the Grand Shield at the British Open Spring Festival, beating their rivals the Flowers from Gloucester to achieve the best contest result in the band’s 150-year history.
Under musical director Dave Johnson the band has gone from the third tier of the festival to the top in three years.
Chairman James Sheppard said: “We are now a confident contesting band, and even though we just missed out on an invitation to the Open at Symphony Hall Birmingham in September we are still delighted by the result and will be working hard to achieve that next step.”
Their piece, Red Priest by Philip Wilby, was described by judges as “confident, purposeful with a tight ensemble and control throughout.”
The band starts a series of concerts in Aldbourne on Sunday, June 2, at 7.15pm by the village pond.
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