News 2010

The East Yorkshire Motor Services Band will be presenting its 21st Anniversary Concert on Saturday 11th September. Starting at 7.30pm in the Middleton Hall, Cottingham Road, Hull, this concert will celebrate in music the Band's journey from a new division four band, to an established band in the top flight. The Band will be conducted by two of its former Musical Directors - Jim Davies & John Roberts, and will feature as guest soloist the world renowned Euphonium player, David Childs.

The programme will include references to the Band's links with the Beautiful South, contest highlights, and the specially commissioned work written to celebrate the opening of The Deep. The traditional music of the Brass band will be represented by the March 'Jubilee' and the hymn tune 'Nicaea', and for those wanting a little more spice, the Band will perform a choreographed version of 'Sing Sing Sing', and bring a new Salsa to Hull.

Tickets - costing Ł8:00 - will be available at the door.

The East Yorkshire Motor Services Band are delighted to announce that their vacant Principal Cornet Chair has been filled. Former Principal Cornet Neil Day has returned to the Band after several months playing at the Black Dyke Band. Neil – a very experienced and talented player – is the first of several players to sign for the Band over the coming weeks.

The Band would like to pay tribute to the two players that have stepped into the breach to cover this all-important seat. Firstly, former Principal Cornet Steve Rudhall flew back from New Zealand to play at the 2010 Area Championships in Darlington. Whilst the result didn’t match the expectations of the Band, the commitment demonstrated by Steve – not only in making the journey – but the devotion to practice and rehearsal whilst here, was a demonstration of the professional approach that Steve had shown previously whilst a member of the Band.

Repiano Cornet player Kirsty Fox was press ganged into moving forward onto the hot seat for the 2010 Spring Festival and the Band’s summer concert series. Although this was not initially to Kirsty’s liking, she has grown into the role, impressing both the Band and audiences alike. A listener at our recent concert in Scunthorpe took the time to write, “I travel many miles a year attending brass band concerts throughout the area, and your band is at least as good as any I have listened to in a long time. I was particularly impressed by your principal cornet player, who must surely be one of the best in the area! She was lovely to listen to!”

Ticket details have been announced for two of the Band's forthcoming summer concerts. On Saturday 19th June, the band return to St Mary's Church Cottingham to present Music for a summer's evening. Priced at Ł8.00 (Ł6.00 concessions) these tickets are on sale now at Gilly's Balloon Company, Hallgate, Cottingham. We are indebted to Gilly's for providing a local outlet for our tickets. Please visit their website, or visit them at their new premises on Hallgate, and enjoy a relaxing drink in their function room 'The Back Room'.

The Band return to Filey on Sunday 27th June to perform as part of the Filey Festival. This concert will once again be held in the Methodist Church. Tickets for this concert will only be available at the door, on the evening of the concert, priced at Ł5.00 each.

For the first time since its launch in 2002 the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band website is having a major update & spring clean. Although the page design was standardised several years ago, it was felt that a new look was about due, and this process will give the webmaster the opportunity to spring clean the files that support the website, and also remove any unused or duplicate documents. This process is expected to take several weeks, but is being carried out page by page so that the supply of information is not disrupted - though some photographs may be temporarily unavailable during the re-cataloguing procedure. We hope that you enjoy the new look site and will continue to visit to follow the adventures of the Band.

On Thursday 13th May, the Band will be holding an open rehearsal at the Town Hall, Hessle. This rehearsal will see the Band perform and rehearse Philip Sparke's test piece 'The Year Of The Dragon', as part of their preparation for the 2010 Senior Cup Contest, to be held in Blackpool two day's later. The Band have won this cup on two previous occasions - 2002 and 2008 - and are aiming to be the first Band to have won this trophy on three occasions in the modern era. Written in 1984, this three movement work is still a demanding test piece twenty six years later, though not just a test piece, this is a piece of music that can grace any concert programme. This rehearsal, starting at 8pm, will be conducted by the Band's Musical Director - Stan Lippeatt.

The Band are currently in the process of moving bandroom. Since 2000 the Band have rehearsed in the St John Ambulance Headquarters in Popple Street, Hull. However, St John Ambulance have sold their current building to move into new premises on nearby Citadel Way. The good news for the Band is that the relationship with St John Ambulance is set to continue, as space has been set aside in the new building to accommodate the Band's rehearsal and storage requirements. The final phase of the move is set to take place over the bank holiday weekend, so that the Band are settled for their final rehearsals in the lead up to the 2010 Senior Cup Contest, to be held in Blackpool, on Saturday 15th May.

The recent North of England Brass Band Championships saw the Band say adieu to three of its members - 2nd Cornet Thomas Kennedy, 3rd Man Down Stewart Kennedy, and Vice Chair Melanie Kennedy. Thomas joined the Band following the 2007 tour of the Netherlands, and has played on both the front and back row, but has now decided to stand down to concentrate on his studies.

Stewart rejoined the Band in 2002, following an initial period with the Band after its formation. He has played on both the back and front row - as well as a spell on Principal Cornet, leading the Band at the 2008 North of England Regional Championship as it qualified for the National Finals. Melanie joined the committee several years ago, and for the past three years has served as the Vice-Chair taking on many projects, including the tour to the Netherlands in 2007, and the 2009 visit to the French Open - as well as willingly taking on the thankless task of organising the deputy players. The Band has always been a family affair for Mel and Stewart, and they were delighted when they were joined at the Band by their daughter Vicki, and nephews Andrew & Thomas, and also on those occasions when the Band was conducted by their brother/brother-in-law Bob (Dr Robert Childs). The Band would like to thank Mel, Stewart, and Thomas, for all that they have contributed to the success of the EYMS Band, and wish them well in the future.

Following his whirlwind tour of the world - New Zealand and back in a fortnight - Steve Rudhall has been reunited with Alice back at home. Whilst in Yorkshire the Hull Daily Mail did a full page article on Steve's trip to help the Band out - the local Indian restaurant were delighted to have this celebrity eat there on the day his picture appeared in the paper, which they conveniently had on the counter. Thanks Steve for making the trip and helping us out for the contest.

As part of the Band's preparation for the defence of its title of North of England Champions, they will be holding an open rehearsal on Thursday 18 March. Starting at 8pm, the rehearsal will be held at Maybury Primary School, Maybury Road, Hull. This rehearsal will see the Band perform George Lloyd's test piece 'English Heritage' under the direction of its Musical Director Stan Lippeatt. Entrance to this event is free, and will see Stan put the Band through its paces, as well as giving a complete performance of the piece.

Following the departure of Neil Day, the Band were faced with almost impossible task of signing a new Principal Cornet player in time for the forthcoming North of England Championships. After several leads dried up, former Principal Cornettist Steve Rudhall agreed to play with the Band at this contest.

Given, that Steve lives in New Zealand this was some commitment! Steve will be flying in two weeks before the contest ready for the 'easy' run in of every night rehearsals. Given Steve's love of curries we are all looking forward to welcoming Steve back to hard work and a highly sociable fortnight.

The Band would like to welcome several players to its ranks. Richard Lancaster helped the Band out earlier this year at the Butlin's contest, and following this was offered a permanent position in the band which he accepted. Richard had a baptism of fire with the Band, as shortly before the contest - to which he'd been asked to play side drum - he fell off his bike and damaged the tendons in his hand. Following several hospital visits, Richard declared himself fit to play, and mastered the Timpani part in next to no time. No mean achievement as it was the unaccompanied Timpani that opened the set test piece performance. Richard joins John Modrate in the Percussion section. John joined the Band towards the end of 2009 following his move from the Wakefield Metropolitan Band.

On Second Euphonium, we welcome Sam Ringrose who transferred to the EYMS Band from the Frickley South Elmsall Band. Sam is a relatively local player coming from Immingham, and his link with the Band has been strengthened by his work as an electrician working on the new St John Ambulance Headquarters to which the Band will move in the near future. There is an EYMS link with all of the above players - former conductor Norman Law conducts the Wakefield Metropolitan Band, former front row Cornettist David Nichols conducts the Frickley South Elmsall Band, and Richard joined from the Barnetby Silver Band, which until December 2009 was conducted by current Solo Trombonist Mark Unsworth.

The Band would also like to welcome Christine Gent on 1st Horn. Christine is an experienced player and conductor, who replaced Garry Oglesby late in 2009. Garry's conducting commitments with the Barton Town Band meant that he had to stand down as a player with EYMS. However, Garry hasn't disappeared completely as he played in our 5 strong Percussion section at the recent Butlin's Contest. We hope that all of these players will have a long, and successful time with the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band.

At the recent Butlin's National Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival, the Band were disappointed to have to say farewell to two of its players who had decided the time was right to move on. Second Euphonium player Andrew Kennedy had decided to dedicate more of his time to his recently founded roofing truss company. Andrew will continue to play his euphonium, but with a band closer to his home near Doncaster. Neil Day, the Band's Principal Cornettist received an offer to join the Black Dyke Mills Band, and after much thought, decided that this was an offer that only comes once in a lifetime, and accepted the position. We would like to thank both players for their hard work and commitment during the past years, and wish them every success in their futures.