About Us

The Ringwood Band were founded in 1879 and have been in existence ever since. The Burley Band started at a later date and continued until 1970 when the two bands amalgamated to form the present organisation (Ringwood & Burley Band). The band is well known in the New Forest/Wessex area and is a member of the Wessex Brass band Association.

Although it does take part in contests, the Ringwood & Burley Band is primarily a concert band playing an average of 30 engagements per year. The band has played before our present Queen, The Queen Mother and Princess Anne. It has undertaken several overseas tours and is planning one to Germany in 2002. Taking part in the 'Liberation of Jersey' celebrations was a highlight.

In 1999 the band enjoyed a mini tour of Lancashire and Yorkshire and were privileged to take part in the famous Northern 'Whit Friday Marches" as seen on the film "Brassed Off". They will be taking part in the Marches again at the first opportunity.

As well as playing the liners off at the quay-side Cunard have invited the band on three occasions over the past three years to give concerts on board the Q.E.2. The band also played for 350 guests on the occasion of the liners 30th anniversary celebrations. One of the highlights of the year is the annual autumn concert for the RAF Association in the Barrington Theatre (Ferndown, Dorset). This is a multimedia concert, always a complete sell out, and usually finishes with a 'Last Night at the Proms' finale.

About

Bernard Lawson was appointed musical director in September 1997 and since then the band has had a successful time as a contesting band winning silverware twice in 1999 - at the Harrow and Wessex contests. In the West of England Regional contests the band has also been quite consistent. Competing against almost 30 bands it has had two 5th's and a 7th in the last four years. The members of the band are therefore delighted that these results now mean that the band has been promoted to the 3rd section!!!! They are looking forward to the new challenges that this will bring. Any players - particularly cornet players, will always be welcome, especially if they are able to help us climb the promotion ladder further.

A unique situation has arisen this summer. The youngest member of the band, 15 year old Rachel Stephens, has been apPointed principal cornet. This is the first time this has happened in the band's history. She is a player with a bright future and is already doing an excellent, mature job leading the line.

Thanks to a £3,700 grant from Hampshire County Council and a £5,000 grant from the National Lottery 'Awards for All' scheme and other donations from Southern Electric etc. a 'Training Band' was launched in January 2001. This is led by the band's baritone player, Vernon Riordan, and has been so successful, with some 18 youngsters attending every Friday evening, that we are running out of instruments for them!

The Senior Band has allocated all its income this year for new instruments. The band will celebrate its elevation to the 3rd section with a full set of Sovereign Basses and Euphoniums, a new Sovereign Horn, a 4 valve Baritone, a new Bach Strad Bass Trombone and some new cornets. The older instruments have been passed down to the training band.