Older News
August 2008 – this month sees the start of some serious renovations and alterations to our band hall. The old stage?has?been removed (including a dead rat!) to allow us to partition off that area as a new?room for general use and storage. The work is a group effort, coordinated by percussionist Alan Dorman. Pictures can be found on the Gallery page.
December 2007 – We are sorry to say goodbye to Andy Gillies (Soprano) following an internal re-organisation within the band. At the time of writing, we understand Andy will return to Dysart Band on principal cornet to aid that band’s attempt to return to competitive playing come the Scottish regional contest in March 2008. Best wishes and heartfelt thanks go to Andy for his help over the last few years.
October 2007 – We have some new silver to show off in the display cabinet at the Bandhall! At the Fife and Central Open Brass Band Contest held recently in Falkirk, we came eighth from a field of nineteen and won both the Best 3rd Section Band (jointly with Irvine and Dreghorn) and Best Fife “B” Band trophies. Now where did we leave that silver polish?
The band took part in a concert at Wormit Parish Church to help the church raise ?402 towards worthy causes overseas. This is just a small part of our ongoing drive to work more closely with other organisations in and around our local community.
August 2007 – We were very fortunate to have a guest player with us for several engagements in August. The player in question was Trombonist Bernard Doughty, one of Tayport Band’s greatest success stories to date! Bernard, from Wormit, played with the band in the late seventies/early eighties before going off to study trombone at Trinity College in London. He is currently principal trombone with the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra – we hope Bernard will visit us again the next time he comes “home” for a holiday.
August must be the month for stories about trombonists! We were sorry to say goodbye to our solo trombonist Heather Singer when she moved to take over the solo trombone chair at Arbroath Band. Her position at Tayport has since been filled by Andrew Howe, a very talented young musician who also plays piano and percussion.
July 2007 – It is with great sadness we must report the passing of long time band member Margaret Symon. Margaret was for many years a very active member of our band – first as a parent, then as a player (Bb Bass). In recent years, Margaret continued her playing with Dundee Instrumental Band along with her husband Iain – Margaret is survived by Iain and their daughters Eileen, Jaqui and Kathy, and grandchildren Lucy, Ewen, Louise and Emma. A recently composed march “Gala Parade” by MD Frank Culross has been dedicated in memory of Margaret.
Band members joined forces with players from Dundee Instrumental, City of Discovery and Forfar bands to make up a massed band for HM the Queen’s visit to Baxter Park, Dundee in order to re-open the newly renovated pavilion. Jimmy Tonner of Dundee Instrumental Band conducted while our resident MD Frank Culross created a new Scottish selection “The (Dundee) Pipers Bonnets” for the occasion. It had originally been hoped we would be able to play the “Baxter March” written for the opening of the park in 1863 by city organist James Pearman – unfortunately, we were unable to obtain an original copy of this in time to arrange it for the visit.
May 2007 – At our AGM, both band secretary Shona Rae and chair Kevin McGhee indicated their intention to stand down from office due to increased work and personal commitments outside the band. As a result, their positions were filled by Janet Sloan (chair) and Eric Blyth (secretary). We would like to extend our thanks to both Shona and Kevin for their years of outstanding service on the committee.
April 2007 – We were sorry to hear of the death of Tom Hillan early this month. Many of the current band members were taught by Tom when he came to teach as a peripatetic brass teacher in the local primary schools of Tayport, Newport and Wormit. The very existence of the present Tayport band is largely the result of Tom’s work with the many youngsters who became the “new” Tayport band (which he conducted) in the early 1970’s
January 2007 – Tayport continues to blossom with several new signings and returners to the fold. The new year sees both Kenny and Irene Reid (euphonium and cornet) make a welcome return to the band after a break of several years – also returning are Lois Bassett (cornet) and Graham Ewart (horn). Other recent signings include cornets Neil Smeaton, Hugh Kivlichen and Tony Goddard, Emma Murray on horn and Karen McDowell on trombone (both ex Moray Concert Brass), Raymond White on baritone, Avril Scobie on Euphonium and Eric Blyth on Eb bass (both ex Dundee Instrumental Band), and Sharon Wilson on Bb Bass. A warm welcome to you all!
In addition to the new signings, we have also recently appointed ex solo trombone player Frank Culross as our resident conductor. Frank was previously musical director at Penicuik Silver Band in Midlothian and has frequently stood in at Tayport any time our regular conductor was unavailable. Frank is naturally delighted to have the opportunity to work with friends old and new here at Tayport.
November 2006 – The band gave a concert at Tayport’s Gregory Hall in memory of the late Elizabeth Reid. Elizabeth often worked tirelessly on behalf of the band since its re-establishment in 1969, having served on its committee for much of that time. The concert raised a total of ?770 for charity which was shared equally between Roxburghe House (Dundee) and the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Society.
January 2006 – following conductor Peter Ratnik’s departure to take up a teaching post south of the border in October last year, we have appointed Brian Deans to conduct the band at the forthcoming 2006 Scottish Championships to be held in Motherwell in March. Brian previously conducted Renfrew Burgh band and has played trombone with the Scottish Co-op and Whitburn bands as well as the Salvation Army’s Parkhead Citadel Band.
December 2004 – this year we introduced a new “Carols by Candlelight” concert in conjunction with Newport Parish Church. This involved local schools, choirs with soprano Helen Brown and BBC presenter Neil Mudie. The concert was well attended and received – we hope that this will be the first of many to come!
December 2003 – Long standing member and stalwart of the band Sandy Smart has just been presented with his life membership. In over 25 years, Sandy has worked tirelessly and selflessly on behalf of the band in both player and support roles.
