Season End for Solent Area Fellowship Band

On Monday, 6 July 2009, the Solent Area Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Chris Kennett) met for its final rehearsal before the summer break. This was a very special rehearsal, with not just the current members of the band but also several invited guests. Almost 60 players rehearsed a variety of music from modern to classical; composers from Heaton to Downie.

Bandmaster Kennett was joined by associate conductor John Hanchett and guest conductor Geoffrey Nobes. In addition to being a former bandmaster at Portsmouth Citadel, Geoffrey is the son of the founding bandmaster of the Fellowship Band, Harold Nobes.

Following the rehearsal there was a great buffet of homemade food and a lovely period of socializing among those assembled.

The rehearsal also marked the last occasion with the band for their Executive Officer, Major Adrian Allman. Major Allman and his wife, Claire, have been appointed to take charge of the Salvation Army work in the city of Gloucester. Major Allman has been the executive officer of the Fellowship Band for the past three and a half years and has helped guide the band through some interesting times. His support and encouragement were greatly appreciated by the band, and to mark his service Bandmaster Kennett made a presentation of a leather-bound Bible and a photograph of the band to Majors Allman during the rehearsal.