Totnes Brass Band is desperate for players of all instruments – and could do with a conductor as well!

Since Christmas, the band membership has been reduced to about ten players regularly turning up, and sometimes as few as six or seven.

Band chairman Bob Mann explained: “Several of our players decided, after our Christmas engagements, that it was time to move on, either for work or study commitments, or just because they wanted to do other things.

“No one has fallen out with us, and hopefully we’ll see some of them again, but at the moment the band is smaller than it has ever been.

“The spirit amongst us, though, is really positive, and we’re determined to rebuild, and we have some interesting projects coming up.

“In April we’re hoping to meet up and play with a Breton street band who are visiting the area, and in May we’ll possibly be hosting two other bands from Europe: a couple of our members have a house in Chamonix, and they regularly play with a band there, and a neighbouring one in Courmeyer.

“Both are going to be visiting, and we hope to put on a joint concert or two.’

Bob pointed out, though, that without a few more players, the band won’t be able to do very much on its own.

“I’m not able to accept engagements for the summer, because we don’t have enough parts covered” he said, “We especially need horn and euphonium players, but any instrumentalist will be very welcome.”

Totnes Brass Band meet at St John’s church, Bridgetown, on Thursdays at 7.30pm. If you can help, contact Bob on 01803 847930.