28th June 2003

Armagh Northern Ireland Summer School

The Armagh Northern Ireland summer school will once again be held in Armagh between the 12th and 16th August. The tutors from Fodens comprising of Mark Wilkinson, Alan Wycherley, Richard Poole, Leah Williams, Helen Tyler, Glyn Williams, Toby Hobson and Mark Landon will carry out masterclasses, sectional and one to one lessons and also full band rehearsals before concluding the course with an open air concert featuring pieces worked on during the week. This is the 3rd year that the summer school has been held with in excess of 70 players attending each year. The course is open to all players from Ireland regardless of age or ability and anyone requiring more information on the course is asked to contact the course organiser Ivor Stevenson on 0283 7526339 or via email ivorbob@hotmail.com.

13th June 2003

Whit Friday Success

Fodens crowned Champions in the Tameside area of the Whit Friday March Contest with a top prize of £2500.

Fodens were also winners at Denton (£350), Heyrod (£500), Hurst (£400), Stalybridge (£500) and The Station (£200) with third place at Broadoak (n/k), fourth at Droylsden (n/k), third at Duckinfield (n/k), fourth at Micklehurst (n/k) and second at Upper Mossley with total prize money of around £5000. A second place was also gained at Uppermill which gave the band a further £350 from the Saddleworth Area.

More detailed information can be found at 4barsrest & whitfriday.brassbands.saddleworth.org

25th May 2003

Fodens Runners-up in this Years All England Master

Fodens, conducted by Russell Gray, were runners-up in the Cambridge All England Masters for 2003. Congratulations go to the winners, the Leyland Band conducted by Garry Cutt.

Full results were as follows:

Pos.	Draw	Band	Conductor	Points
				J Berryman	E Crees	D Read	Average
1	6	Leyland	Garry Cutt	2	3	5	10
2	21	Foden's Richardson	Russell Gray	1	8	2	11
3	11	Yorkshire Building Society.	Dr. David King	4	6	1	11
4	14	Brighouse & Rastrick	Ian McElligott	6	2	6	14
5	5	Flowers	Philip Harper	10	4	3	17
6	15	Sellers International	Philip McCann	11	1	10	22
7	10	Travelsphere Holidays	Peter Parkes	3	14	8	25
8	9	The Fairey Band	Allan Withington	9	13	4	26
9	19	Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band	David Evans	7	12	7	26
10	18	Aveley & Newham	Nigel Taken	8	16	11	35
11	20	Besses o' th' Barn	Steve Sykes	5	19	12	36
12	12	Rothwell Temperance	David Roberts	12	5	20	37
13	8	Redbridge Brass	Melvin White	15	10	14	39
14	16	JAG Mount Charles	John Hinckley	21	7	15	43
15	2	Ever Ready	Ray Farr	20	15	9	44
16	4	Carlton Main Frickley Colliery	Willaim Rushworth	14	20	13	47
17	17	Ransome	Brian Grant	17	11	19	47
18	3	Thoresby Colliery	Michael Fowles	13	17	18	48
19	7	Jaguar Coventry	David Lea	19	9	21	49
20	1	Glossop Old	James Cant	16	21	16	53
21	13	S W T Woodfalls	Rob Wiffin	18	18	17	53
Test Piece: Chivalry - Symphonic Tone Poem for Brass and Percussion by Martin Ellerby Adjudicators: John Berryman, Eric Crees & David Read Solo Prize: Stuart Lingard, Cornet YBS

15th April 2003

Fodens at Manchester Cathedral

The Fodens Richardson Band, the recently crowned North West Champion band and All England Masters for 2002 is to perform a concert of Classic Brass at Manchester Cathedral on Saturday 3rd May commencing at 7.30pm. The concert entitled Cathedral Brass will also feature the Guest Cornet Virtuoso David Daws, who until recently was the Principal Cornet player of the International Staff Band and is considered to be one of the world’s finest brass soloists.

The programme will feature Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann, Philip Wilby’s Lowry Sketchbook and the Overture Le Roi Dy’s by Lalo. David Daws has chosen to perform the cornet classics Golden Slippers and Wondrous Day.

The Fodens Richardson Band is one of the most famous brass bands in the world, having won every major brass band title. The band hails from Sandbach in Cheshire and appears at Manchester Cathedral following performances at The Bridgewater Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and the Royal Albert Hall, London.

The Fodens Band was formed in 1900 and the Mortimer family are synonymous with the band. For many years Harry Mortimer was the Principal Cornet of the band and his father Fred was the conductor, whilst Harry’s two brothers, Alex and Rex also played with Fodens.

Tickets are priced at £10 and £8 and are now available from the box office, telephone 0161 907 9000

2nd April 2003

Richardson Award for Composition!

Following the launch of the inaugural Richardson Award for Composition, the Foden's Richardson Band are delighted to announce that there has been strong and exciting interest shown from composers and arrangers from all parts of the UK and Europe. The competition is now open and all entries are now being accepted for consideration and should be forwarded on or before the closing date of 4th July 2003 to the Richardson Award Administrator: -

Mr A Wycherley
19 Peveril Mews
Newtown
Disley
Cheshire
SK12 2RN

21st March 2003

New Signings

Fodens are pleased to announce that their search for a Repiano player has been finalised with the appointment of David Purkiss. David is from a salvation army background and has previously played Repiano with Travelsphere and more recently principal cornet with Pennine Brass. David is currently studying cornet at Birmingham Conservatoire where he is the Universities principal cornet player. Following the departure of Lawrence Barton, the band and pleased to announce the re joining of Andrew Warriner on BBb Bass. Andrew was a member of Fodens between 1988 and 1996 before leaving to join the Grimethorpe band and to conduct the Lancashire Life Morecambe band where he took them from the 3rd to the 1st section in the space of 3 years.

9th March 2003

Foden's Win the North West Area 2003

Fodens conducted by Russell Gray win the North West Area Championship at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool for the second year running. This years test piece was Prague by Judith Bingham. The adjudicator was Roy Roe.

Mark Wilkinson and Helen Tyler.	Results for the first six bands were as follows: Place Band Conductor Points Draw 1 Foden's Richardson R. Gray 195 5 2 Williams Fairey S. Bastable 193 8 3 Haydock I. Brownbill 192 4 4 Leyland G. Cutt 191 3 5 Dobcross Silver D. Hadfield 190 9 6 BT M. Fowles 189 10
Remarks !	Russell Gray and Pete Coulson	Celebration !

29th February 2003

Foden's Richardson Band Annual Patrons Concert

In February 2003 at Sandbach School, the Patrons of Foden's Richardson Band were introduced to the band's new Sponsors.

Don Richardson was invited to the stage where he explained the nature of the Richardson's business and also their previous connections with Foden Trucks, who were the original sponsors of the band.

Mr Richardson was also asked to present the David Brunsden Memorial Trophy to Bandsman of the Year (2002), flugel player Helen Fox. Special mention was also made of runner up Phil Green (Eb Bass).

For many years, Fodens Patrons Association was run by Stuart and Hilary Gilder. Sadly last June, Stuart lost his battle with cancer. Fodens dedicated their last CD, "Overtures", to his memory and appropriately, at the Patrons Concert Hilary was asked to present a new award, Player of the Year. Runner up was announced as Alan Wycherley and euphonium "ace" Glyn Williams was presented with the Stuart Gilder Memorial Trophy.

Anyone who would like to become a patron of the band should write to:

Foden's Richardson Band Patrons Association
32 Vicarage Gardens
Elworth
Sandbach
CW11 3BZ

Or email - webmaster@fodensband.co.uk

11th February 2003

Armagh 2003

Foden's Richardson Band have just returned from another successful and enjoyable trip to Armagh, Northern Ireland (Friday 7th and Saturday 8th February 2003).

Fodens were the guests of Armagh Old Boys Silver Band and were making their third successive annual trip to give two concerts at the Market Place Theatre. Both performances were given to capacity audiences that included bandspeople from all over Ireland. A Masterclass was organised for Saturday morning, and a rehearsal with the Old Boys Band was fitted in on Saturday afternoon.

Audiences were treated to a varied programme of music each night, directed by guest conductor Derek Broadbent, including overture Le Roi D'Ys, finale from Year of the Dragon, Birdland, Chicago, and Reel Music. The band surprised the audience by singing most of Radetsky March, which was one of three encores each evening! During the two concerts Fodens soloists were given chance to shine - Mark Wilkinson (Charivari), Leah Williams (Over the Rainbow), John Barber (Blue John), Glyn Williams (Endearing Young Charms and Rev Archie Beaton), Alan Wycherley (Deep Bond), Mark Landon (Xylomania), Helen Fox (Beneath the Willows), and Phil Green (The Sun Has Got His Hat On).

Foden's Richardson Band would like to thank Ivor Stephenson and his team from Armagh Old Boys Silver Band for their tremendous hospitality over the weekend and look forward to travelling to Armagh again in August 2003 for the annual Summer School.