Fakenham Town Band
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About Fakenham Town Band...

Fakenham Town Band is one of the few brass bands in East Anglia that can boast existence in 3 different centuries.

Formed in 1881 by 6 men in a pub, Fakenham Town Band has survived many ups and downs including 2 world wars. Nevertheless, sheer determination and commitment by members over the years have ensured that the band not only survives, but reaches high levels of musical performance for the enjoyment of audiences and players alike.

Fakenham Town Band is very popular, often giving up to 40 performances per year ranging from garden fetes through to concerts. Most events are in North Norfolk and the surrounding area. See the concert list for future engagements.

The main focus of the band is to provide entertainment for the local community and for the personal pleasure of the players. To maintain and increase the standard of playing and provide a challenge, the band also enjoy contesting. Recent years have seen a rapid rise from the C section, through A and B , with promotion in 2003 to the Championship section for the East Anglian Brass Band Association. This is a tremendous achievement, especially considering the majority of the band are still of school age.

Practices are held every Monday and Thursday evening in Trap Lane Pavilion, Fakenham.

Monday night practices from 7pm - 8.30pm are dedicated to the teaching of new members how to play their chosen instrument and to help novice players develop further. A team of dedicated experienced players assist in this workshop.

Thursday night is the main practice night starting at 7.30 and finishing at 10pm. Everyone works hard to achieve high standards, but there is always room for a laugh too!

New members, both experienced and novice are always welcome. The majority of current players were inexperienced when they joined, therefore there is a good appreciation of how daunting it can be to join a band for the first time. There is always someone nearby to help or give a word of encouragement.
Why not come along and not only learn a new skill, but make a new circle of friends too? Instruments are provided.

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Bernard Wright joined Fakenham Town Band in 1928 when he was 14. He played cornet and conducted the band throughout his banding career. Bernard retired from playing in 1998 but continued to attend band rehearsals regularly as a spectator and much-valued advisor. During this period, Bernard also continued to arrange music for the band. Sadly, Bernard passed away on 1st February 2006 aged 91. Below are some thoughts Bernard put together in 1999 when he was asked to write a newspaper article about the band. Although some of the facts quoted are out of date, the spirit of the current band is well and truly captured in this text.

“Being around for a long time is no recommendation in itself: what matters is how you are using that good inheritance for the present and for the future. However, there must be a certain vitality in an amateur organisation that has endured from 1881, into the new millennium

Nobody knows that better than musical director Danny Wakefield. He was eighteen when he took up the baton, 10 years ago. It was a good decision, brass bands were achieving a new appreciation and respect with the public and in critical circles, a process that continues. All conductors have an ideal sound in their head, and Danny is no exception, the right sound is high priority. He tells us when we achieve it and he reminds us when we fail.

Pay a visit to Trap Lane Pavilion on the main practice evening, Thursday, there is a chair ready for you. The room has been set up well in advance for a prompt 7.30pm start. Count the players, somebody will be absent with a cold or similar, another on holiday or still at work, but you are likely to see anything from eighteen or more players.

Now consider the whole band, nine or ten are still of school age. The Musical Director, the librarian, the principle cornet, almost all of the back line cornets, principle euphonium, 1st baritone, all trombones, three of the basses and second percussion all took their first steps within the band.

Recruitment is essential, which is why the Monday evening training session is faithfully kept up.


Here absolute beginners work with more experienced players and are led by the junior musical directors, who in the main band are the principle Euphonium Player, and Eb Bass player. This work continues through school holidays, and as with the Thursday practices, players make their best efforts to attend whatever the weather.

The band is one of the many clubs and societies that firmly denies the notion that there is nothing to do in Fakenham

The band is much indebted to parents for their loyalty in bringing their children to practices and engagements, besides other gifts of their time and treasure.

Three mothers are valued committee members, of which one is Secretary. Other mothers have taken up instruments themselves and now play along on a Thursday with their children.  This is the kind of band we want to be.

Some bands have renounced their former old fashioned names for more trendy titles, but we are still proud to be called Fakenham Town Band, at the same time taking pleasure in the quantity of modern music regularly bought by the funds we earn.

The band is delighted with the new enlarged accommodation provided by the council at Trap Lane.

The signs are good, a talented leader, dedicated players, an intake of new players and improved public support, for all of which, we say many thanks.”

 

  


 

© Copyright 2008 Fakenham Town Band.