If you don't play a brass instrument - don't worry! We still very much welcome your support as Friend of the Band. As a Friend we will send you a regular newsletter and you will get preferential entry to our concerts - as well as a concert dedicated to all our Friends.

Operating Brass Bands is an expensive exercise. Running costs include music, upkeep and replacement of instruments, uniforms, conductor’s fees and transport. To do this we need the help of all our friends and supporters.

To achieve this the “Friends of the MacTaggart’s Band” scheme was set up in January 1995. Many friends and supporters have joined and we hope that more will do so in the future. The annual membership is £15-00 and may be paid in one lump sum or by instalments throughout the year.

Members receive a twice yearly newsletter giving information about the Bands and their activities. They also participate in prize draws in each of the months of February, April, June, August and October for a prize of £50-00. There is also a bonus draw in December. The proceeds from the scheme are shared between the two Bands

While we thank you for your continued support, we also need more “Friends of the Bands”, so please encourage all of your friends and relations to join the scheme.

Friends get involved in all sorts of ways - whether by simply sponsoring us via their membership, or actively behind the scenes.

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Dear Friend of the Bands

Annual Concert, Friday 13th November 2009

We’ve now set the date for our annual concert in Loanhead Parish Church and it will feature Loanhead Brass Rootlets, Loanhead Brass Roots and MacTaggart Scott Loanhead Band under the batons of Musical Directors Mr Alan Fernie and Mr Mark Bell. Both my telephone number and e-mail address are below so do let me know if you require tickets.

Since the last letter to Friends was sent out Roots and Rootlets joined Edinburgh, Leith and District Pipe Band of the Boys Brigade in a successful fund-raising concert on Saturday 30th May in Loanhead Parish Church for the Stedfast Project, with which the Boys’ Brigade Company attached to the Church is involved. The concert concluded with a joint performance of Highland Cathedral by Roots and the Pipe Band. Between 7th June and 4th July the senior Band took part in six processions – Poltonhall Gala Day, Loanhead (Carnival Parade, Primary Schools Procession and Loanhead Children’s Day), and both Blackburn and Seafield Gala Days in West Lothian. Donald McLaren ran two marching tutorials for Roots players in the MacTaggart Scott & Co. Ltd. car park which meant that many of the young players were able to help out the senior Band on the marches, particularly in the Loanhead Primary Schools Procession on Friday 26th June. We’re not sure whether the latter enthusiastic participation stemmed from the love of playing on the march or from the fact that, on behalf of those willing to take part, we wrote to head teachers requesting time off school! Donald has also done sterling work over the summer setting up a new website for the bands at www.loanheadbrass.org.uk. Please visit it and once you’ve done so he’d be delighted to receive any feedback you might have.

Since the summer break Brass Roots played at Drummond Grange Care Home Summer Fair, the Midlothian Youth Music Festival at Vogrie Country Park and the Loanhead Community Development Association’s Street Fair. Brass Rootlets also played at the Street Fair. In August the senior Band made its annual visit to Liberton Kirk for Outdoor Praise that had to move indoors because of the weather. The weather also played havoc with Brass in the Park on the first week-end in September in Newtongrange. The tented village could not be erected safely. The contests were held at the Mining Museum instead on the Saturday and all three bands played well. No prizes for the senior Band but Silver Awards to both Rootlets in the Novice Section (14 and under) and Roots in the Development Section (16 and under). Sadly the Sunday events had to be cancelled which meant that Brass Roots were unable to perform a short concert and to join the massed bands for the finale.

Next outing for the senior band is the Borders Entertainment Contest in Peebles on Saturday 31st October. Rootlets and Roots entertain Bonnyrigg Pensioners’ Association in Bonnyrigg Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Wednesday 11th November (tickets available from me) and both travel to Perth Concert Hall for the Scottish Youth Championships on Sunday 29th November (tickets also available through me).

Yours sincerely

G. Robin Henderson (Band Chair)
HendersonsAR@talktalk.net