A busy Christmas season

We really enjoy getting out and about into our community to spread a little Christmas cheer and so, like virtually all brass bands around the world, Sumner Silver Band is particularly busy in the run up to Christmas.

Much of our Christmas programme has been undertaken during exceptional weather, but unfortunately it was cold and wet on the morning we played at the Ferrymead Heritage Park. We were due to play outside near the old railway station, but due to the weather had to perform inside. This, however, allowed the band to experience playing in the beautiful restored church.

Our first engagement of the Christmas Season was supporting Redcliffs School at their Christmas Fete (playing in the school’s educational garden). We practice each week in one of the school’s classrooms so it was a pleasure to provide some entertainment for them at this event.

We are very fortunate in that ‘our patch’ covers some outstandingly beautiful places and, given that our Christmas performances are mostly in early summer, most of our performances are outdoors in lovely weather.

A favourite of ours is to play each year at the picnic at Waitahuna in Governors Bay. Once again the weather was kind and a very enjoyable evening had by all. Behind the band you can see the newly restored Governors Bay jetty, and during the proceedings a collection was taken towards this project.

This year for the first time we ventured around the bay to Diamond Harbour where we played for an hour or so in front of the supermarket there. As well as generous donations from our audience (which we split 50/50 with the local Health Centre refurbishment project) we were also looked after very well by James from the supermarket who brought us out chilled bottles of water mid way through our performance and ice creams at the end!

We’re coming towards the end of the Christmas performance season now, with just three playouts left.

Tomorrow we’ll be at Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market from 9:30, followed by a visit to a rest home for the elderly. Then our final performance for the year will be when a small ensemble from the band plays at the Christmas Eve Carol Service to be held at Cave Rock on Sumner Beach on Sunday afternoon.