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BUGLE's main street became tin pan alley
for the day when the clay village hosted the West of England Bandsmen
Festival on Saturday. Crowds lined the streets to watch the traditional
march of bands through the village for the 83rd annual contest.
It certainly did not rain on the parade as the march was met with bright
sunshine. There was a special cheer for St Austell Town Band who were
wearing button hole flowers to mark the passing of popular conductor and
cornet player Peter Minear, Peters cornet was proudly displayed by
musical director David Loukes as he marched in front of the band through
the village.
The only outdoor brass band competition of its type still in existence
was slightly marred by frequent downpours but the weather did not put
off the crowds. Close to 2000 people packed into Molinnis Park to see
the 19 bands perform set works in the various sections all doing their
best to beat their competitors and take home some of the 33 trophies up
for grabs.
This year eight bands competed for the coveted Royal Trophy in the
Championship Section. The section was won in fine style by the Camborne
Town Band led by Frank Renton of BBC Radio 2 fame who’s reading of the
set test “Le Carnival Romain” and March “Celebration” found favour with
the audience and adjudicator Dennis Wilby alike. Mount Charles band were
awarded a close second place with St Austell Town conducted by David
Loukes taking third place.
Adding to West Cornwall’s haul of trophy’s Heyl Town won the second
section while Camborne B triumphed in the third section. St Breward
Silver were awarded the fourth section winners prize and St Dennis Youth
under the baton of Brian Minear were the winners of the closely
contested youth section just ahead of Mount Charles Youth.
Adjudicator Dennis Wilby from Yorkshire sat in the traditional tent to
give his unbiased opinion of each and every performance throughout the
day. In his address to the audience preceding the awards ceremony Mr
Wilby commented on the fine standard of playing throughout the day
making special mention to the young players in the youth section and the
high standard of playing by the euphonium players in the championship
section bands who all tackled the difficult euphonium solo in “Le
Carnival Romain” with apparent ease.
Leonard Adams, the festivals new Chairman thanked his predecessor
Melville Hancock and the festivals treasurer John Tanner for their hard
work, both were stepping down after many years at the helm. Mr Adams
also paid tribute to Peter Minear who he described as “one of the
countries finest bandsmen, both as a highly respected cornet player and
conductor”.
Leonard thanked all the bands for entering the contest with special
mention of the Langley band who travelled from the Midlands for the
first time and Wantage from Oxfordshire making a return visit after last
year. Wantage were treated to a true Cornish welcome to the county when
they ended their day by visiting the St Austell Band Club to be
entertained by members of the St Austell Band.
Rob Faro, from the West of England Bandsmen Festival, said: "A fantastic
day was had by all; the inclement weather did not affect proceedings
especially with an additional marquee provided to shelter the audience”
"The streets were packed with people cheering the bands, especially as
St Austell Band paraded past paying their moving tribute to Peter Minear."
Said Festival promoter Andrew Teague.
Organisers, villagers and bands are all looking forward to next years
contest due to be held on Saturday 21st June 2008.
Bugle Contest 2007 – Full Results
Championship Section
March – Celebration
1 Camborne Town 96
2 Mount Charles 94
3 St Dennis 93
4 St Austell Town 90
5 Helston 87
6 Wantage 86
7 Bodmin 85
8 Langley 83
Test Piece – Le Carnival Romain
1 Camborne Town 193
2 Mount Charles 191
3 St Austell Town 189
4 St Dennis 186
5 Helston 185
6 Wantage 184
7 Bodmin 183
8 Langley 181
Best Player – Robert Jose – Euphonium – Camborne
2nd Section
March – Restormel
1 Heyl Town 89
2 Bugle Silver 88
3 St Stithians 87
4 St Pinnock 86
5 Kernow Concert Brass 85
Test Piece – Henry the Fifth
1 Heyl Town 187
2 Bugle Silver 185
3 Kernow Concert Brass 184
4 St Pinnock 183
5 St Stithians 182
Best Player – Sharron Holywood – Cornet – Heyl Town
3rd Section
Test Piece – Divertimento
1 Camborne B 183
2 Hatherleigh 180
Best Player – Samuel Eddy – Soprano Cornet – Camborne B
4th Section
Test Piece – Psalm for all Nations
1 St Breward 183
2 Kernow Concert Brass 181
3 Hatherleigh 179
4 Lostwithiel 177
Best Player – Jeff Swan – Euphonium – St Breward
Youth Section
Test Piece – Music for a Festival
1 St Dennis 186
2 Mount Charles 183
Best Player – Kim Bazeley – Euphonium St Dennis
Best Cornet – Glen Philp – Mount Charles
Winning Conductor – Brian Minear – St Dennis
Special Awards
Best Soprano Cornet – Les Kneebone – Camborne Town
Best Cornet – Ian Thomas – Mount Charles
Best Euphonium – Robert Jose – Camborne Town
Best Horn – Mark Letcher – Camborne Town
Best Basses – Mount Charles
Deportment
1 Hatherleigh Silver 34
2 Bugle Silver 32
AR Trudgian Youth Awards
Josie Brewer – St Dennis
Andrew Julian – St Dennis
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