Pangbourne Band

Published: 14 March 2024

Following our two autumn entertainment contests at Addlestone and Wychavon, our Christmas season was enjoyably long and busy as usual.

A group from the band started our carolling season at the Pangbourne Shopping Evening on 24 November and finished up a whole month later at Loddon Brewery on Christmas Eve (our second visit there of the season!).

The full band successfully played at our more formal Christmas concert on the 8 December at the Pangbourne Club.

We had our band Christmas meal on 20 December at the Swan in Pangbourne. The food was excellent, and we were well looked after by the staff.

Groups from the band visited other venues during December including: Shinfield View Care Home; Spurcroft Primary School Thatcham; The Dog & Duck over in Wokingham; River View Care Home and Reading Station and played round the streets of Pangbourne on several evenings.

If you want to book a group from the band, do let us know in good time.

This year, Christmas donations and collections for the band came to £1918.90 and we are very grateful for the tremendous support of our local community.

The band loves being part of the local community of Pangbourne and surrounding villages. We really enjoy playing at village fetes, charity garden parties, breweries, car shows, rallies, regattas, etc so we’re always delighted to get bookings for these.

January seems like a long month after the excitement of Christmas, but we have been using the time very productively rehearsing for the annual London & Southern Counties Stevenage contest in March, together with material for our spring and summer season.

We rehearse on Wednesday evenings at Pangbourne Village Hall and always welcome new players of all ages. Do come along at 6.45pm in term time for the All-Comers Band if you are a learner (or trying a different instrument). Please come at 7.45 for an 8pm start for the Silver Band if you are a more experienced brass player.

David Paine
The Pangbourne Band

Photo: The carolling group at Reading Station 23 December 2023. Courtesy of Rob Burnage.