Members of the Nailsworth Silver Band have been looking forward to their 2018-2019 season for a very long time. That’s because it’s their centenary year, and the band have several performances earmarked to celebrate such a momentous landmark.

Pete Dillon, Chairman of the Nailsworth Brass Band, is already planning ahead for what will be a year of celebration for his members. He said: “We’re tremendously excited for what promises to be a great year. We’re a brass band who loves to get out and play as often as we can and we’ve a number of exciting performances lined up for summer and further ahead.

“Summer is always a really busy time for us, we play at festivals and shows which are always very enjoyable, especially with the weather being as nice as it has been. On the 25th of this month we’ll be playing at the Hawkesbury Upton Show, leading the parade which is a performance everyone in the band is looking forward to.”

One of the leading cornet players in the country will be playing alongside the Nailsworth Silver Band at a commemorative concert next year. Pete continued: “We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming Tom Hutchinson who plays in the Cory Band, probably the best brass band in the world. Tom will be attending a concert with us next year to mark our centenary which is tremendously exciting for everyone associated with the band.”

The band is a real mix of ages, with the youngest member just 14 years old, with some of the more senior members in their 60s and 70s. Pete added: “A lot of the members of the band are living in Nailsworth and the surrounding area. We do have a few travellers from Bristol and Gloucester as well. We enter the national championships each year. We’ve got two contests coming later in the year at Cardiff and here in Gloucestershire. We currently play in the fourth section, we’re hoping to rise up into the third section this year.

“We really like to mix things up when it comes to performing. We play a variety of traditional marching music as well as songs from films and more up-tempo music. We try and play lots of current music as well, in fact we’ve been working on a song from ‘The Greatest Showman’ which we can’t wait to perform.”

Another notable centenary event will take place in northern France next year. Pete explained: “In May we’ve got a trip to Lèves in France, a town that Nailsworth is twinned with. We’ll be playing some concerts at some fantastic venues which is something a lot of our members are really excited about.

“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to achieve over the years. We’re an inclusive band that likes to have fun and I’d like to think that gets reflected in our music.”