The Bradwell Silver band has hailed one member a 'hero' after helping to keep traditions alive.
Bradwell Silver Band has a hero hidden within their membership, who has been playing with the band for 20 years.
The band is formed entirely of volunteers from the players to the musical director, bookings secretary and librarian, relying on the 'goodwill, dedication and love of music' by a large range of individuals.
Many members of the band come from groups of families – playing groups comprising mum, dad, daughter, son, in-laws, grand-children – creating a network of players, social connections within the band, and a flow of ‘next-generation’ players.
Members of the Bradwell Silver Band have hailed one member, son of the Wilson clan, Luke, a 'hidden hero'.
Fore more than 100-years, the band has had kept to a tradition of performing Christmas carols on the streets of New Bradwell, starting at 6am on Christmas morning, with a tradition that the children not being allowed to open their stockings until they’ve heard the band.
In 2021, with covid still rife, government directives banned the group from playing but Luke, on his own, with is massive Bass, headed out to keep that tradition live.
Most recently, 'hero' Luke designed and launched a brand new website for the band after realising the old one was not up for the job. Band members say Luke sourced 15-years of the bands newsletter ‘The Bugle’ to create an online archive of band news, creating a fresh professional digital face for the band.
The website has launched in time for the band to head to the regional brass band contest to play against bands from London and the South East of England. Winning the 4th section in 2018 and the 3rd section in 2022, the band are hopeful of a good result playing Stephen Bulla's 'Chorale and Toccata'.
Bradwell Band is a community of brass players who rehearse twice weekly together, performing for the community at fetes, events and celebrations. The players also give their time to provide tutoring and mentorship to aspiring musicians through their 36-player strong Development Band.
