Spring has sprung the grass has riz, I wonder where the birdies is?
As always we had a lovely time playing at this traditional Spring event in Hexham at the end of April. Maypole dancing and Birds of Prey.
A tad cold but that doesn’t stop our lovely trumpeters smiling.
We are back in full swing with a busy Spring programme of events. Here we see Dave and Colin limbering up on Post Horns for a special version of ‘Post Horn Gallop’ to be revealed at the County Show.
It was lovely to be able to celebrate the wedding of two of our band members this year.
Their eyes met over the Woodwind /Brass divide and love blossomed between Stephen and Lucy. There was much covert activity and excitement before the big day.
Caroline even wrote a special song performed by a flash choir at the reception.
Here we see a selection of cakes and other goodies set out to surprise the happy couple when they were presented with a card and bottle of ‘Fizz’ from PCB band members.
Luckily Stephen and Lucy are always fashionably late for rehearsals so it gave us plenty of time before the big reveal at the last rehearsal before the big day.
PCB were honoured to join the happy couple to play during their ceremony.
As always ‘Songs that won the Wars’ that well known wedding favourite chosen by the groom brought a tear to the eye.
We wish them every happiness.
We managed to play every planned Xmas gig this year with a finale at our home ground outside Prudhoe Co-op. Another cold and frosty morning!
The Co-op and their customers were very generous to us this year enabling us to buy our lovely warm coats and hats.
Thank you to the fine and hardy players of PCB who turned out in all temperatures this year. It was one of our coldest ever ‘Car Park’ Tours!
Here we see our MD Mr ‘Bing’ Hignett giving a moving rendition of ‘White Christmas’ bringing a tear to the eye of several unwitting bystanders.
We can now pack away our warm winter coats and hats until we next need them for our Summer tour.
Rehearsals start again on 13th January at Highfield School Prudhoe, so if anyone out there would like to join us come along and have a blow.
It was lovely to be invited back to close proceedings at the Hexham Xmas fair again.
This popular event got us in the mood for Christmas, we even got to play on a proper stage in the grounds of Hexham Abbey.
White Christmas
Theres always one!
It was looking touch and go the week leading up to our Gibside appearance with deep snow covering the North East.
Luckily it warmed up for a positively balmy performance (under gazebos (X2)) at 6 deg C.
When we last played Daniel Farm it was a lovely sunny summers day, not so for our ‘Winter Tour’! Ice underfoot and an freezing artic wind chilled us to the bone. It was the only recent performance when we have had to be gritted to remain upright. Music stands slid around blown by the wind!
Here we see Mr Lamb our esteemed Bass player who was heard to be hoping for ‘A gritty performance’ 
Sadly it was that cold that most of the visitors huddled together warming up inside the cafe.
Thank you to Vallum Farm for inviting us back to play at their Xmas Market. Sadly not enough room to squeeze the band into the main marquee, but here we are all nice and warm next to the kitchens.
We kicked of our annual Xmas fundraising tour of car parks various today with a lovely set at Newcastle central Station.
This being remembrance day at 11 o’clock our lead Trumpet Andrew Guerin played the ‘Last Post’ before the station observed two minutes of silence to remember all those who have died in conflict. We will remember them.
Prudhoe Community Bands very own Maria Carey look-alike Joe with his haunting rendition of’All I want for Christmas’ 
Many thanks for Newcastle Central Station for inviting us to play again and special thanks to C.G Hudsons for providing welcome drinks to warm the band up during the interval.
In October we had a brilliant night with our friends Prudhoe Community Choir to celebrate the last night of the (Prudhoe) Proms. This flag draping over the conductors stand saw action at Dunkirk, kindly brought along by our lead trumpeter Caroline.
Prudhoe Methodist Church Hall looking splendid as an alternative to the Albert Hall
Land of Hope and Glory
The event was enjoyed by a very enthusiastic audience, many thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the evening.
We were saddened to learn of the sad loss of our dear friend and talented percussionist Mark Bolderson who died in August.
Mark was often involved with the band covering for our regular drummer Jack Ruddick and brought in for special percussion duties.
The Cobbles Prudhoe, on a cold and blustery day, nothing new there!
Mr ‘Spike’ Bolderson himself with the band performing ‘A Salute to Spike Jones’ in 2014
Mark is missed by us all. In his memory his family have set up the’Mark Jon Bolderson Percussion Foundation’ which aims to encourage and support young percussionists in the region.