Applications in the strictest confidence can be made by email to the Band Chairman Mr John Bailey (john.bailey277@ntlworld) or contact him by phone for more information (0115) 9117556.

Alongside many contest successes Walter has conducted many concerts and public performances, entertaining audiences across the East Midlands.

Carlton Brass would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Walter for all his dedication and hard work over the last 4 years.

Carlton Brass

Carlton Brass together with Walter Ritchie BEM at the 2010 Butlins Mineworkers Festival

We played a selection of music for those attending the event, including the emotional themes of Benedictus by Karl Jenkins, from his piece The Armed Man, a Mass For Peace.

Whatton House has some beautiful gardens set in the glorious Leicestershire countryside. It was a pleasure to perform there for such a deserving charity. Many thanks to those that attended – we hope you enjoyed our music.

The band moved on to perform a St Georges Day Proms concert for Mapperley Rotary Club in West Bridgeford.  At the end of the evening there were a lot of tired and bruised lips but for the first outing of the summer season we gave it our best.

Special thanks must go to all our friends who helped out on this very busy day!

His good friend Fred Straw has written an eulogy:

Frank lived in Netherfield, Carlton and, finally, Gedling practically his whole life. He left school at 14 years of age and began a 7 year apprenticeship on the fitting staff at Colwick Motive Power Depot. Since 1902 men at Colwick had, in their spare time, formed a brass band called the Netherfield Railwaymen’s Silver Band.

In October 1947 Frank had been taking lessons with Mr Jack Baldwin, a well-known and respected music teacher in Netherfield. He was welcomed into the band which had been reformed in 1946 after WWII. Quite a number of bandsmen had been lost in the conflict.

Frank developed and became a typical bandsman. He wold do anything asked of him and many jobs without being asked. He had a lovely nature, always ready to laugh. He would move onto any Bb valve instrument if required, from cornet down to BBb bass. He was a Trustee and a life member – otherwise he shied away from holding any other official positions.

Frank was very generous, especially to his friends. For example, if anyone needed a small washer or perhaps a vacuum cleaner part his response was usually “do you know, I might just have one of those”. He nearly always had and would give it to you.

When Colwick Motive Power was closed down in the late 1960s Frank obtained a position at the Colwick Sugar Beet factory and became a foreman responsible for the ladies working on the machines. He also repaired and maintained the machines when required. This just suited him as he always got on well with the ladies.

Eventually the sugar factory closed and Frank found another job at Broadbents, a company based in Colwick who supplied and maintained steam washing and cleaning equipment. Soon after getting familiar with the machines Frank was supplied with a small van and became a travelling trouble shooter, visiting farms, garages and businesses throughout a large area of the country.

Finally, Frank was also a very private person and although he was in pain at times he never made a big issue of it. His only comment would be: “I don’t know what I would have done without Sonia [his only child] – she’s been so good to me.”

Towards the end we believe he died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Tues 9th March

Fred Straw, friend for 66 years

Admission is £5 only, either at the door or in advance at the venue, and there’ll be tea, coffee and other refreshments available too. There will also be a raffle, so bring some extra change!

Proceeds of this concert will go to fund both the church and the band.

Call 0115 9117556 for more information

We also need percussionists, preferrably tuned percussion players. Our concert and contest musical programmes requires increasing amounts of drums, timps and glocks etc, and so any interested percussionists are encouraged to come for a play on our kit.

Additionally, the band needs a cornet player to sit on the front row plus a baritone/euphonium player.

Applicants are welcome to visit the bandroom during our Monday and Friday rehearsals. See our Contacts page for committee members or contact our Chairman John Bailey on (0115) 9117556 or (0773) 8604528

Tickets are priced at only £5 and will be available on the door.

For further information contact us

The test piece was the rather difficult Pentacle by talented, young composer Graham Cole. Graham had created a piece of music that would have tested most Championship Section bands and comments around the various regionals have shown that many bands have struggled at rehearsals with Pentacle.

Opinion of the piece has been divided. Some people love it and some don’t but the band managed to find enough music in the piece to be adjudged sixth in a field of 16 bands. Despite a wobble during the Fire movement the other four movements featured some good ensemble work and many fine solos that impressed the two adjudicators enough to give us a top six finish.

The band were delighted with the result considering the difficulty of the piece and the quality of the other bands in the section.

Top honours went to Phoenix West Midlands Brass, who will be joined in Harrogate for the National Finals by City of Coventry. Congratulations to both bands. Carlton Brass wishes you well in Harrogate and hope that you show the other regions just how well Midlands bands can play.

The sixth place leaves the band in pole position for promotion to the Championship Section next year. Ourselves and Foss Dyke lead the way taking only ten points each into the 2010 Regional Finals and the talented Forresters Band not far behind.

Carlton Brass will take a lot of encouragement from our performance this year and hope that under the continued direction of Walter Ritchie we can achieve a prize or two in the 2009 contest season.