The Band provides regular articles for the Rollestonian. It therefore seemed appropriate to reproduce them here (and any other news) for those interested in this local band.

Tutbury Band Goes North
(This article is taken from Rollestonian - Winter 2009 issue)

When the audience gives you a standing ovation at the end of a performance you know you've done well; when the Manager of the Concert Hall you've played in puts her arms round you and gives you a kiss you know you've done very well; but when the coach drivers who carried you on tour leap about shouting "Wicked innit", you know you've cracked it!! What more can I say? The two concerts by Tutbury Band at Strathpeffer Pavilion were a success.

Strathpeffer is a delightful Victorian spa town north of Inverness set amid the forests and streams, and moors and mountains of the Highlands of Scotland. This was our second visit and although it is a long coach journey, it is very worthwhile. It was made even more so by the National Hotel in Dingwall, where we stayed, at being wonderfully flexible about feeding us excellent food so that we could get to the Pavilion in good time, having free beer (until 10) and putting on a Hallowe'en party for us. Well, maybe they would have done that anyway but it felt as if it was for us.

We did all the proper tourist things as well; a trip to the site of the Battle of Culloden (an excellent information centre and cafe), off to Ullapool for fish and chips. It tastes different when the fish was swimming about just a little while before you eat it, Some took the train to the Kyle of Lochalsh to see the Isle of Skye, others 'did' Inverness. We were blessed with some lovely sunny weather and the autumnal colours were splendid.

But the climax of the whole expedition was the Saturday night when we ended playing “Highland Cathedral” with the impeccable Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band led by Pipe Major James Mackenzie. Their tone and the precision of their playing were amazing. The sound of a Pipe band and a Concert Band together is truly awe inspiring - and the audience was duly inspired - some were even moved to tears of delight.

A great trip. Even the deluge of rain on the way home could not dampen our spirits.

Our next big event is the Christmas Concert at Burton-on-Trent Town Hall at 7.30pm on the 19th December.

Contact the web site (www.Tutbury-band.co.uk) for tickets. Book early to avoid disappointment - ours as much as yours. We’d love to see you there.

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