Riverside Brass, 3rd March 2024

Our Musical Director, Victoria, addresses the audience on the opposite side of the Avon.

Christchurch is well on the way to recovering from the sequence of earthquakes it experienced a dozen or so years ago (four major earthquakes over a 15 month period), and is rapidly becoming a vibrant modern city for the 21st century.

Most of the downtown area is pedestrian friendly, and much use has been made of the river Avon in the regeneration of the city.

A highlight of the redevelopment is the Riverside Markets - the city’s major hospitality precinct - risen out of an area which was almost totally destroyed during the second of our major earthquakes, on 22nd February 2011. The Terrace, a hub of 20-odd eateries built on a block where nothing survives from 2011, fronts the river with steps leading down to the water - a very popular place for picnics on warm lunchtimes.

The opposite side of the river from The Terrace is Remembrance Park which hosts the statue of Henry Nicholas VC MM, who was the only Cantabrian to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Great War. Adjacent to his statue is a performance area where bands can play to those enjoying the ambiance of the area.

Sumner Silver Band was delighted to once again take part in the Canterbury Provincial Brass Band Association’s day of performances in Remembrance Park. The weather was good to us, and we entertained an enthusiastic crowd with a selection of music which included the famous march ‘Imperial Echoes’ (well known to many New Zealanders because of its use on the BBC’s radio newsreel broadcasts) and the Queen favourite ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.