New Musical Director - November 2006
The band is pleased to announce we have appointed Matthew Pollard as our new Musical Director. Matthew has worked extensively in the fields of composition and conducting, and is a former Solo Baritone player with the National Youth Brass Band and Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. Matthew took over the position on Friday 20th October, and has hit the ground running, with preparations for the Christmas season well underway. You can read more on the conductor's page here.
Wine, Cheese and Welly Thowing – October 2006
This autumn the band has faced a very important question – what do we do with ourselves the weekend of 14th October now that the SCABA Autumn Contest in Folkestone has been cancelled?
The answer was to organise a couple of fun social events in the local area. The first was a sports afternoon held at Greenleas Park in Hangleton on the Saturday afternoon. The events included such varied persuits as rounders and welly throwing. Later that evening a Wine, Cheese and Sausage Tasting Night was held at St Helen’s Church Hall, for band, family and friends.
I’m sure that many people waking up the next morning had that ‘Sunday morning at Folketone’ feeling – primary symptoms being a sore head and/or a slight feeling of nausea, however luckily without having to face a two hour car journey home!
Many thanks to Clair, Stuart, Andy, Rachel, Su, Nick and anyone else planned or helped out at these events.
Hangleton Plays at Borde Hill Proms Concert - August 2006
On the evening of Saturday 5th August the band played for a crowd of thousands at Borde Hill outdoor Proms Concert. This year is the fourth year we have done this event, and for an amazing fourth year running the weather was very kind to us. (Surely it MUST rain next year!
As in previous years the band acted as a warm up for the English Concert Orchestra, conducted by BBC Radio 2 Presenter Frank Renton. As if that were not enough the band were also honoured to be introduced by 80s funkster DJ David 'the kid' Jenson. Previous band favourites the Citroeon Dancing Robots were also present and correct.
The band featured in a newspaper article on the event in the Evening Argus the following week. You can see the cutting here.
Hangleton Band Ten Piece Group - July 2006
During July the Hangleton Band Ten Piece Group played at two engagements, both birthday parties, and both for old friends of the band.
The first was the birthday party of our Honourary President David Chappell. The party was held at Southover Grange in Lewes on a lovely sunny afternoon on 15th July. A last minute decision to play outside in the gardens meant we had the chance to entertain not just the invited guests but also members of the general public and a nearby wedding!
The second birthday party was a suprise for our ex conductor Arthur Chapman. The party was held at the Sussex County Cricket Ground, on a not so sunny afternoon on 22nd July. Despite two members of the group getting drenched in a torrential thunderstorm on route, the band put on a good show for the assembled guests, and Arthur even picked up the baton again for a rendition of the old favourite 'The Cossack'.
Summer Concert - July 2006
The band held it annual Summer Concert at the Windmill Theatre in Hove on 8th July. The theme of this years concert was ‘a musical trip around the world’, with the band playing music from across the globe, finishing off with some old British favourites.
The Youth Band also played a selection of music inspired by the World Cup. Sadly when the programme was planned weeks ago it was hoped England would be in the finals by the concert. Fate however decided otherwise!
The concert also marked the end of our time under the baton of MD John Williams, who was awarded a framed signed photo of the band as a souvenier of his time with us.
MD John Williams Leaving for Pastures New - June 2006
Our Musical Director John Williams recently announced he will be leaving the band following our Summer Concert on 8th July. All at the band wish to thank John for his hard work over the last 18 months and wish him the very best for the future.
Crawley Entertainments Contest - May 2006 
The band's winning streak continued recently at the SCABA Crawley Entertainments Contest held on 21st May at the Hawth Theatre.
Hangleton were awarded 2nd place for our programme of music, and MD John Williams was awarded the best conductor prize. The band has traditionally done well at the Entertainments Contest, being placed second in 2005 and third in 2004.
This year's programme consisted of March Opus 99, Pastyme With Henry, Southern Cross (soloist Kevin O'Shea) Big Spender (featuring a dance routine by Clair O'Shea and Geoff Farrar) and There's No Business Like Showbusiness. You can view the adjudicator's remarks here
This brings Hangleton's current haul of trophies to FIVE! So it is with high hopes that we look forward to the SCABA autumn contest in Folkestone this October!
Hangleton Band Newsletter - May 2006
Unfortunately due to work commitments Clair O'Shea is stepping down from her role as editor of the Hangleton Band Newsletter, which is produced four times a year for all band members and supporters. Due to the amount of work needed to write and distribute the newsletter it has been decided that there will be no more issues produced - however fear not, the latest band goings-on will from now on be reported on this news page, updated at more regular intervals.
I'm sure all band members and supporters alike would like to offer Clair a huge thank you for all her tremendous work with the newsletter over the last few years, and hope she enjoys her new found spare time!
Summer Engagements – May 2006
This summer the band will be doing three stints at Horsham Bandstand, the first of which is on Saturday 20th May from 11am. We will be sharing the town centre with a French market on this first occasion, and so we will be including some appropriately Gallic music in our programme!
On Sunday 17th September the band will be making a return to Eastbourne Bandstand (pictured left). The band hasn't played at this venue for a few years now. It's a great venue to play at - a typical English seaside scene, and well worth the travelling time!
Hangleton has recently been invited to play at the Borde Hill Prom Concert again this summer, supporting the English Concert Orchestra. The band is extremely lucky to play at this high profile event, which forms a great climax to our summer programme of engagements.
The band will also be playing slightly closer to home on Brighton Seafront next to (but not on!) the bandstand, on Saturday 29th July, and in Brighton Pavilion Gardens later in the summer (unconfirmed).
Ex-Band Member Update! - May 2006
It was with heavy hearts that we bade farewell to bass player Jenny Farrow in 2004 - she was not with us long, but in that time quickly earned the respect of the whole band as a talented musician and all round good sport.
So many may have wondered how Jenny has chosen to fill the her free time now she has re-settled back 'up north'. Well, it has recently come to light that Jenny is now playing Sousaphone with a Bradford street band called the 'Peace Artistes', pictured below. As you can see from the picture they are a little different in style to Hangleton, although seem to share our enthusiasm for dressing up in silly costumes.
If you'd like to know more, click here to view their website.
Well done to the Youth Band, who swept the board at the Southern Counties Spring Contest at Hove Town Hall on 23rd April.
Congratulations are in order for band member Rachel Colcombe (nee Welch) 