Police Band's Arresting Performance - April 2010

The Band of the Hampshire Constabulary, conducted by Major Jason Burcham, produced a wonderful evening of music, full of changes of style and tempo, when they played at Cornerstone in Hythe.

More than 100 listened to over 40 musicians performing marches and overtures that had the audience enthralled from the very beginning, and they were soon toe-tapping and applauding excitedly.

The programme included music as diverse as the moving and peaceful 'Yesterday' and the rousing 'Post Horn Galop'. There was a selection from 'Oliver!' and church music such as 'All Through the Night' and 'Jerusalem', torgether with works by Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael; sea shanties, marches and patriotic pieces. A selection from war films, including 'The Dambusters', was accompanied by photos and sound using Cornerstone's two big screens.

The final piece was 'The Hampshire Hog', arranged by local man Tony Kitcherside, who was present on the night and was introduced and acknowledged by conductor, Mjr Burcham.

Peter Blasby from Cornerstone said afterwards: "The whole evening was fantastic and such a success that the band has already been booked for next year - 19th February 2011 - a new date for your diaries".

published: The Herald No.218 22nd April 2011

Police band goes to Somme ceremony - Nov 2009

f
The Band of Hampshire Constabulary is to take part in a poignant remembrance service at Thiepval on the Somme.
For the third consecutive year the band will be guests of the Royal British Legion for the ceremony in France tomorrow.

As well as playing at the Thiepval Memorial, the band volunteers will march to the local village church and later play in Mailly-Maillet for a further commemoration.

Trumpeter PC Chris Stone will play the Last Post during the ceremony, which will be attended by representatives from several nations.

Band chairman David Basson is also to lay a wreath at the imposing Lutyens memorial at Thiepval in memory of those who died at the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.

The band will be led by assistant director of music John Hill.

published: Portsmouth News 10 November 2009

Band's Rocky Gesture- July 2009

THE Fundraising efforts of the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary and Portsmouth's Milton Glee Club Choir were recognised recently when Chief Constable Alex Marshall presented a cheque for £2,500 to Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust's Rocky Appeal.

The sum was raised after the band and the the choir performed a joint concert at Portsmouth Cathedral in March.

In a ceremony at Cosham's Queen Alexandra Hospital, chair of the trust, Professor David Rhind, received the cheque which will be put towards the Rocky Appeal's target of raising £3m for new state-of-the-art digital keyhole operating theatres. Prof Rhind said: "This tremendous donation will help the appeal which is progressing well thanks to the generosity of organisations like yours."

Present were Director of Music Major Jase Burcham RM, band chairman David Basson, band secretary Andrew Wood and representatives of the Milton Glee Club committee.

Mr Basson said: "The band raised nearly £10,000 for charity last year which is a record amount and we hope to do the same or better in 2009. It is a great pleasure for the band and the Milton Glee Club to be supporting the Rocky Appeal. We shall be joining them in concert again at Portsmouth Guildhall in May 2010."

By Permission from "Frontline News" Issue 148, July 2009.

Cop This! A welcome cheque for £2,500 - June 2009

A LOCAL charity has received a cheque for £2,500 after a concert by a local police band.

The Hampshire Police Band performed a special concert in March to raise money for the appeal which is raising money for cutting edge digital keyhole operating theatres at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

The appeal has now raised £500,000 - one sixth of their intended total which is £3m.

David Rhind, chairman of the Portsmouth Hospitals Trust, said "You can see how important the hospital and the service is to the community. We are going to make this the best hospital in the south, the best in the UK. The new buildings are fantastic. The quality of the rooms are great. This donation is wonderful. I don't think you can understand how much a difference this will make."

Chief Constable for Hampshire Alex Marshall said: "I was happy that the band supported the charity. There are clear links between the police and health services. We both deal with people in times of emergency."

By permission from "The News" - 6/6/09

See more about this story - Portsmouth Hospitals NHS article - JUNE 2009

Band's new fundraising record - January 2009

LAST year proved to be a bumper one for members of the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary in their charitable fundraising efforts - they managed a 110 percent increase on 2007.

Charities benefited by nearly £10,000 thanks to the popular concert wind band performing in and around the force area throughout the year.

Band Chairman David Basson explained that the rise in donations was due to a few more events in the band's calendar together with larger audiences being attracted by better publicity from organisers.

By Permission from "Frontline News" Issue 144, January 2009.

Police band together to help key appeal- January 2009

POLICE are helping to raise cash for a multi-million pound hospital appeal.

The Band of the Hampshire Constabulary, along with the Milton Glee Club Choir, will perform a special concert at Portsmouth Cathedral in High Street, Old Portsmouth.

Rocky Appeal organiser Mick Lyons is urging supporters to snap up tickets for the event, which is in aid of the £3m appeal. This will help pay for three state-of-the-art keyhole operating theatres at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham.

The Rocky Appeal has so far raised £425,000 since being launched last April, but more donations are needed if fundraisers are to achieve their goal of getting the first theatre up and running by Easter. Surgeons will be able to carry out an extra 12,000 operations a year in the new theatres with conditions ranging from gallstones to bowel cancer.

Mr Lyons said : "We are grateful to everyone who has made a donation. We now need a big push to get these theatres running as soon as possible for the benefit of patients in our area. We have got 300 tickets for the event and are desperate to drum up support."

"The News", pg 10 - Tuesday January 13th 2009

Music to our ears - July 2008

"The Women's Institute is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and as part of our celebrations we held a garden party in Audleys Wood Hotel, Basingstoke, to which we invited the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary to come along and play for us.

This they duly did, at considerable inconvenience to some of them, and I am writing to tell you of the huge delight in their performance that my WI members felt.

Their musical performance is of course beyond question - they are a superb buncg of musicians - but their cheerfulness and willinness to join in the spirit of the occasion played a large part in making our party such a memorable and wonderful event. Their rendering of 'Jerusalem' (absolutely indispensible at such an important WI occasion) brought over 160 members to their feet to sing along with the music. Very moving.

I think - and the other people present on the day agree with me - that Hampshire Constabulary should be very proud of the olice band, both for the members' musical prowess and for the wonderful advertisement they are for the force as a whole." - Lynne Andrews, Vice Chairman, Hampshire County Federation Women's Institutes

By Permission from "Frontline News" Issue 140, August 2008.

 

 

Roy Poole Leads The Way - 11 Nov 2007

 

Force band’s send off
for D-Day heroes



SPECIAL APPOINTMENT – D-Day veteran Ernie Shepperd was one of many soldiers who enjoyed the stirring music played by the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary when the proud veterans sailed from Portsmouth for a return visit to the beaches of Normandy. Ernie, who served with the mortar platoon of the 1st Battalion Royal Hampshire Regiment, was a part of the Gold Beach assault formation on the morning of June 6, 1944. On its approach his landing craft took a direct hit and Ernie was one of the few who were rescued and made it onto the beaches. His part in the war ended only a few months later when, working in support of the Arnhem operations, a German shell burst left him with shrapnel lodged in his spine.

By permission from “Frontline News” Issue 138, May 2008.


New start for the band
Frontline (Hampshire Police newspaper), Feb 2006

"The Band of the Hampshire Constabulary's first concert of 2006 is the start of what will hopefully be another successful year of fundraising..."
An article in the Police newspaper about the bands events and concerts.


Musical Memories
Southampton Echo, 15 Feb 2006

"Southamptons nostalgic sound of music has hit the right note with one Hampshire Heritage reader..."
An article about two photographs of the Southampton Police Band found by Dave Goddard .


Music man of the docks
Southampton Echo, Feb 2006

"He was known all over Southampton for his military bearing and immaculate appearance - in fact, buglar Bill was a familiar local figure for decades..."
An article about Bill Barnes, who in later years played for the Hampshire Police band.

Musical police 'lifted the
cathedral rafters'
The News, 28th Jan 2006

"Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral was filled with the sound of music to raise funds... "
An article about a concert to raise funds for
Rowans Hospice.

Police Band's Arresting Concert
Newspaper, Dec 2005

"The Waterside Theatre at Holbury was filled with more than 250 senoir citizens..."
The article reports the bands annual Christmas concert led by Len Lewry, organised by The Rotary Club of Hythe and District.