Community Band.

I see from posters that there is a move to start a community band in the village. Those players of musical instruments who like playing with other people are asked to gather at the Community Hall on Sat 14th Feb at 4.30pm. The group is open to players of all levels of ability and the sessions will be led by a professional musician. The idea is to have a functioning musical group ready to play at Street Market.If you are interested, but cant attend on saturday, contact Anne on 01392860576.

Silverton has, of course, had town bands in the past. Some of us older residents will remember seeing the old instruments stored away in the loft at what was then the school canteen, later the British Legion Club, before they were taken off to Tiverton and cannibalised. I dont know what sort of community band is being proposed, but I somehow doubt if we shall see a silver band marching through the streets as in days of yore.

In my previous place of residence in the west of scotland, beginning about easter and going on until mid august, we had an entirely different type of marching band passing through our towns and villages when the Orange lodges marched with their uniformed flute and accordion bands complete with the thunder of the Lambeg drums. People who complain about the bass on some disco equipment being loud, probably have never encountered a Lambeg at close quarters. Some parts of Glasgow and Lanarkshire also have the republican marching bandscomplete with colour parties carrying the irish tricolour and the Starry Plough. A very different musical scene to anything we are likely to find at Silverton Community hall I would think.