On 8th July Aylesbury Band returned to Fairford Leys to play at the annual “Fair in the Square”. Looking back through these news items it turns out that this was the 11th year that the Band has performed at this event, often known previously as the Fairford Leys Summer Fayre. This year the weather was fine and warm, and the event passed off without incident, almost routine even, unlike some previous years. At the first event in 2007 it was showery and windy, while in 2008 we were beset by pigeons! In 2012 a chilren’s entertainer had the children shouting so loudly they might have been heard in Wendover, while in 2013 the sun was so strong we were in danger of sunburn. In 2015 the gusty wind threatened to blow music away and knock over music stands, and wind was again a problem in 2016.
This year conductor Robert Wicks and the Band played two sessions. In the first we played Thunderbirds, Lady Gaga Dance Mix, Pavane by Morton Gould, a selection from Chicago, and music by The Beatles. The second session opened with Eric Coates’ Dam Busters March, followed by Moment for Morricone (film music by Ennio Morricone), the 3rd movement of Theatre Music by Philip Sparke, music from the film Titanic and from Band of Brothers, Doyen by Goff Richards, and Broadway Showstoppers, arranged by Warren Barker.
Our next job is the Vale Park Proms in August, another regular event which we have done every year since 2000, even longer then Fairford Leys.