The Queen’s New Years Honours list has just been announced and there are two awards for people connected to the world of brass music.
Dr Tim Thirst, Director of Music for Stalham Brass Band has been awarded an OBE for services to the Stalham Brass Band, youth music and to the community in Stalham. Dr Thirst joined the band forty five years ago and his commitment is as strong as ever, “Keeping a brass band alive, in a rural area, is very hard work” says Tim “it’s not a hobby, it’s a long term commitment. For a band to be successful, players have to turn out for every practice and every event. They all depend on each other. That’s why it’s a Band, and when things don’t go right from time to time, as happens in all organisations with a long history, you just have to dig deeper and work harder. We are here to ensure that Stalham’s Brass Band has a long future ahead.”
Clarence Adoo has also been awarded the OBE. On top of losing his career as one of the UK’s top trumpeters in a car crash in his mid 30s, Clarence’s doctors offered no promises of any improvement and a loophole in the insurance policy meant he did not qualify for a payout despite being paralysed from the neck down. Yet Clarence remains a remarkably upbeat and positive man who proves that miracles still happen!