A Recap of 2024
Our 30th year comes to an end, we can reflect on many achievements from starting The Onward Hall renovations to successes on the contest stage etc, however the most important reflection is our people. Those that play, those that lead, those who support and for those who have helped financially to keep us going.
Here’s to the next 30 years!
Particular mentions go to Martyn Patterson, our wonderful MD who does so much musically for us. Our fantastic Band Manager who happens to be a rather super Euphonium player Alison Jane Millin who keeps us in line and our fabulous committee and trustees that continually move the band forward. We are also very pleased to announce our bands person of the year Julia Powell
who has gone above and beyond in both her musical achievements and her commitment to the band and making us all laugh a lot!! A well deserved award.
Happy 2025. Onwards and Upwards
Tue 24th Dec
- Christmas Eve
A exquisite setting to start off Christmas with lots of carols and readings.
A full house.
Thank you Coleford Baptist.
Afterwards we gathered at the home of our Chairperson for a Christmas Eve social.
Sat 21st & Sun 22nd Dec
More successful carol playing at Tesco in Chepstow. Thank you to the customers and staff for your kind comments and generous donations.
Sat 21st & Sun 22nd Dec
More successful carol playing at Tesco in Chepstow. Thank you to the customers and staff for your kind comments and generous donations.
Friday 20th Dec
A small group went along to Wetherspoons in Chepstow to entertain the customers.
We had a great time, Thank you all.
Thursday 19th Dec 7.30pm
Thank you to everyone that attended our Christmas Concert last night in Viney Hill Church, where we were joined by Yorkley School Choir, who were brilliant.
Sadly we had to cut the concert short but we would very much like to thank everyone that attended and hope you enjoyed the concert as much as we did.
We’ll look to do something in the summer locally for the local villages.
Saw many of the band take it in turns for a few hours each day playing to the shoppers at Morrisons, Abbeydale.
Thank you to everyone who donated so generously.
Fri 13th &
Sat 14th Dec 24
Wed 11th Dec
Carols in the Courtyard, Aylburton
For many years prior to lockdown a Carol Service was organised on the Preaching Cross, in conjunction with the Methodist Chapel and St.Mary's. Villagers assembled by the candle lit cross to sing Christmas carols. This lapsed during COVID-19.
This year FoD Brass were delighted to accompany the carols..
Sat 7th Dec
Unfortunately this was cancelled due to Bad Weather.
Yorkley Christmas Tree Light Switch On. Start 5pm to 6pm
An annual event for us to play Festive music for all in time
for the switch on of the local village Christmas Tree at Yorkley Community Centre.
Christmas Tree Switch on is at 5.30pm
Enjoy Carols, Mince Pies and Mulled Wine.
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|We might have not been able to make it but the tree did get lit on Sat 14th Dec.
Coleford Baptist Church Christmas Tree Festival
We have added a tree to the Festival to represent the amalgamation of Coleford Town Band and Yorkley Onward Band.
Our tree has been decorated with instruments of every section, musical notes, some baubles containing tiny versions of music of our March "Forest of Dean March", a classic piece "Resurgam" and a christmas number "Christmas Joy",
We included words to express the reasons behind why being in a brass band is good for you.
There is a QR code available for you to donate to our good cause.
​We accompanied the congregational singing launch service
on Sun 1st Dec. Afterwards a few of us went to
the Miners Arms, Sling for a very nice lunch.
Carols Across The Valley
Fri 6th Dec
It was a gloomy night at the Pludds but the wind and rain did not stop the hardy people of the vale. A small group played carols for the villagers to sing.
Afterwards we were rewarded with a warm cup of tea and mince pie followed by some more carols for singing back at the hall.
GBBA Contest
Sun 24th Nov 2024
Well what a day at the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association on Sunday. With all the flood issues most of us took a very long journey to Gloucester Chosen Hill School, via the new Severn Bridge and up the M5. No prizes for us this year but a massive congratulations to Lydbrook Band for winning 1st section and being overall winners. Also to Lydney Town Band for winning 3rd section.
