Bandstand

SUCH was the enthusiasm of Norman Pendray to learn a brass instrument that at the age of 12 he walked the two miles each way from his home to the St Pinnock Band Room in the company of another bandsman, Ernie Bunney. Obviously that enthusiasm paid off as this year Norman celebrates 40 years as principal cornet of the St Pinnock Band, a testament of the dedication he has given to this most rural of Cornish bands. Founded originally in 1866 as the St Pinnock Temperance Band of Hope in the tiny village of St Pinnock they have always had to draw players from the scattered country parishes in the area.

Having been born in St Neot, Norman moved with his family to St Pinnock in 1960 and quickly decided to follow his grandfather, Morris Pendray, into the band. With his brother, Ernest, Morris was a member as far back as the early 1900s but gave up playing in the 1930s. Norman's father, Thomas, was not a musician but became a well-known exponent of draughts, captaining the Cornwall county team with great success. Shortly after Norman began to play the band appointed Joe Armstrong as their musical director, a man who was to make a great mark in the brass band scene in East Cornwall as a conductor and teacher. He had been a noted euphonium player with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and also their bandmaster and brought a wealth of valuable experience to the St Pinnock Band.

Through his connection with Grimethorpe, Joe knew the great band trainer and conductor George Thompson very well and it was not long before he came to visit Cornwall, staying on Norman's family farm. George soon decided that Norman was holding his cornet too firmly to his lips and suspended it from the lampshade, making him play his scales without holding the cornet, a lesson Norman found invaluable. With teaching from Joe Armstrong he made rapid progress and was appointed the band's solo cornet in 1969 at the age of 17, this at the same time as milking 120 cows on the farm each morning and evening, even on days the band travelled to the West of England Regional Brass Band Championships in Bristol.

On one occasion his idol, the famous cornet player Jim Shepherd, joined him in the milking parlour while staying with the family on a visit to Cornwall. An opportunity arose for Norman to play with Grimethorpe, but as he told me his father had other ideas and he remained on the family farm and is still farming today, though now as an organic beef farmer, supplying Sainsbury's rather than a dairy farmer. As well as continuing his link with St Pinnock Norman has also played with the Bodmin Town Band, realising with them another ambition to play in the Royal Albert Hall in the finals of the National Brass Band Championships. He has also conducted the St Austell Town Band as well as both the St Pinnock Senior Band and, very successfully, a junior section of the band.

As a member of the successful quartet, along with David Pope, David Tamblyn and Barry Cole, which won the South West Championships in 1977, he appeared on Westward Television, following up an earlier appearance with the St Pinnock Band in 1974, when he was featured playing the post horn.

Life took an interesting turn for him in the early 1970s when Fiona Whitehead, a young horn player, joined the band and on October 4, 1975 they were married at the parish church in Liskeard, the first time two playing members of the band had married.

Fiona had started in the Liskeard Silver Band, but only after a struggle, as at that time the band did not welcome female musicians. Having told the conductor, Harry Edgcumbe, of her wish to learn, he thought he was putting her off by sending her away with an old cornet, telling her to learn the C scale by the following week. This she mastered and was admitted to the predominately male brass band world, later being just the third lady to join St Pinnock.

Farming is very much a full-time occupation, but despite this Norman has devoted countless hours and years to his hobby. He told me he has always felt it important to have a hobby away from the pressures of agriculture. "While playing you cannot think of anything else," he said. "Music is so demanding you lose yourself and it recharges the batteries." St Pinnock and the Cornish brass band movement has certainly benefited from his commitment, which we hope continues for many years to come.

Musical Adventures

THE Cornwall Army Cadet Force has recently raised a full military band, The Peninsula Band and Bugles, which meets at the former TA Centre, North Roskear Road, Camborne on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9pm. They also organise band weekends at Penhale Camp near Perranporth and would like to welcome some more musicians.

Anyone between the ages of 12 and 18 who plays a musical instrument or would like to learn one is welcome. Additionally there are plenty of opportunities to participate in other activities including sport, first aid, fieldcraft, expeditions and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. The band would also like to appoint a music director and some more music instructors to support bandmaster Chris Rundle and bugle major Andy Jagger. For further details, contact cadet executive officer, Major Stephen Davies on 01208 73183.

Return to School

CALLINGTON Town Band members have just spent two days back at school. Last month they played for the entertainment of pupils at Gunnislake Primary School and the following day, held a workshop for year five pupils at Callington County Primary School. The children are all having brass or percussion lessons and the band is keen to encourage them to join the town training band in order for them to continue playing when their year's tuition with the school comes to an end.

For two-and-a-half-hours the town band members sat side-by-side with the Callington pupils to help them play and follow the simple pieces of music and the morning ended when they entertained the parents with a short performance. Headmaster Matthew Shirley provided drinks and cakes, which kept the players going, and also joined in with the practice, playing along on his trumpet. At the end of the morning several children and their parents expressed an interest in attending training band practices and Mr Shirley warmly thanked the band and its conductor for the day, Bill Leith, for an excellent morning and commented that he hoped it would become an annual event.

Anyone, beginner or experienced musician, who would like to join Callington Town Band, should contact musical director, Paul Boase, on 01579 383741; in particular they have a vacancy for a kit percussionist and a baritone player.

New Team Appointed

MOUNT Charles Youth Band have announced a new-look conducting team as Jeremy Willcock has been appointed as musical director, with Richard Marshall, the principal cornet of the Black Dyke Band, taking up the role of musical adviser.

Jeremy will be working with the youth band on a day-to-day basis, continuing the musical development that the band has planned to maintain their national status. He started his brass band career with the St Dennis Band and studied music at London College of Music, Royal College of Music and the University of London, following which he worked in London for many years playing and teaching trumpet and cornet at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, before returning to live in Cornwall. He is also musical director of the St Pinnock Band and a tutor with the Cornwall Youth Brass Band. Commenting on his appointment, Jeremy said: "I am really looking forward to working with Mount Charles Youth Band and their music advisor Richard Marshall, who has close links with Mount Charles and will take up the musical adviser role for both the youth and junior bands." The junior band will continue to be trained by Gary Lannie.

Speaking about his new musical adviser role Richard commented: "In 2006, I first conducted the Mount Charles Youth Band to victory at the National Youth Championships and the British Open Youth Championships and since then I have always been keen to work with the band. All the players involved enjoy playing and I hope to develop their playing skills even more." Richard also has a family connection with the band as his wife, Rebecca (née Yeo) was a player with Mount Charles before her marriage and is now a member of the Black Dyke cornet section.

Derek Thomas, the Mount Charles chairman, said: "I am delighted that both Jeremy and Richard have agreed to support us. We have a committed and enthusiastic group of young players ageing from seven through to 21 one in our youth and junior bands, which we see as the lifeblood of the organisation."

Anniversary Reunion

THE Easter course of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band this year marks the 50th anniversary of their first residential course in 1959. To celebrate, the band is holding a reunion evening for all past members at Truro High School for Girls, Falmouth Road, Truro, during the course.

This takes place this Saturday, April 11 from 6pm and the trustees are particularly keen to welcome as many of the musicians as possible who were on the original course to come along and revive their memories of the occasion. It was in 1955, encouraged by Mr W Pearson, the county music advisor, that the idea of a county youth brass band was born, the first in the United Kingdom. The first solo cornet was John Berryman, now President of the Band, and the first soprano Rodney Richards. On trombone was Goff Richards who remembers being taken by his father to the rehearsals which were held in different towns around the county. In 1959 it was decided to hold a residential course for the first time and Dr Denis Wright was invited as guest conductor. This was held in August when 62 young players from 15 Cornish bands camped at Porthpean near St Austell and worked for four days in a large marquee, under the baton of Dr Wright. As secretary of the band I will be delighted to hear from any of the musicians on that original course or from anyone who has information about them. Just contact me on 01752 843919 or e-mail brassmanpgh@uwclub.net . The end-of-course gala concert, conducted by Philip Harper, is at St Michael's Church, Newquay at 7pm on Monday, April 13.

Career Opportunity

THE Corps of Army Music (CAMUS) is widely recognised as being the largest single employer of full-time professional musicians in the UK. It is constantly searching for new musicians to swell its numbers and hold insight courses with various military bands around the country throughout the year. Instrumentalists immediately sought are, woodwind, brass and percussion, as well as strings, bass, lead and rhythm guitarists, keyboards and vocals. The courses are completely free of charge to those attending and are designed to provide an honest and informative insight into the regular workings of a British Army band. All applicants are advised to be of a grade five musical standard or above and aged between 15 and 18. During the week attendees can expect to learn some common military skills and take part in more adventurous activities including an indoor electronic firing range. Specifically designed with young musicians in mind and delivered by the army musicians themselves, students will also be expected to play in concert band rehearsals, marching band and some of the smaller ensembles.

For full details contact L Cpl Tracey Llewellyn on 0208 7448608.

Live Music

ST BREWARD, the new West of England regional brass band champions for the fourth section, and their musical director Garry Lannie, are delighted with their win at Torquay last month, which gives them the honour of representing Cornwall at the national finals to be held in September at Harrogate. Having spent the past 12 months rebuilding the band they are now back up to a full complement of players. They are giving a concert on Saturday, April 25 at 7pm at Egloshayle Church, Wadebridge, when they will be joined by the St Piran Singers from Looe, conducted by Danny Gill. Tickets are £6, with concessions at £5 and children under 14 years free.

St Pinnock Band and the St Germans Singers will be at The Public Rooms, Bodmin, on Saturday, April 18 at 7.30pm when I shall have the pleasure of introducing the concert. A reminder from The Cornwall Brass Band Association that entries shortly close for its Cornish Whit March event through the streets of Camborne on Saturday, May 30. Frances Calver has all the details on 01208 851235.

For those musicians who miss the challenge of solo competitions in the summer months and would like a good day out, there are two contests available for them to enter. The first, on June 13, is the 20th Bideford Town Band solo and quartet contest, with adjudicators Brian Buckley and Derek Johnston judging the varied classes for slow melody, air varie, duets, quartets and ensembles. Cyril Pascoe has all the details on 01237 476649. Even further away on July 5 is the Forest of Dean Music Festival at Coleford in Gloucestershire with similar classes for brass. Schedules there from Kristyann Symonds on 01594 562778.