Wellington Silver Band festival success

Wellington Silver Band festival success

17 January 2024

WELLINGTON Memorial Silver Band from Barnamaghery, near Crossgar, were among the winners at the Festival of Brass, which was at the Maldron Hotel. 

The 23 members of Wellington Memorial competed in Grade 3 in the competition organised by Brass Bands Northern Ireland.

Under their new conductor, Stephen Cairns, the band performed ‘One Small Step’, ‘Bring Me Sunshine’, ‘Make You Feel My Love’, ‘Punchinello-March’, ‘Twelfth Street Rag’ and ‘Meet the Flintstones’.

The band has also completed another season of Christmas events, including carol services in Crossgar War Memorial Hall and Raffrey Presbyterian Church.

Christmas fundraising at various venues throughout Northern Ireland raised £7,000 for Action Cancer, an annual tradition started by Davy Dickson of Derryboy and which has raised a collected sum of £30,000 for various charities.

The band, which is based at Barnamaghery Orange Hall, was formed in 1945 after initially being a flute band from 1903. The band practices on Monday evenings and is eager to attract new or experienced players.