Christmas came early for the Band this year when the Mayor’s Carol Service at St Mary’s Church took place on the 1st December. Once again the Band played a prominent role in the service, beginning with some music to set the scene before the Mayor’s party arrived, including White Christmas and A Vaughan Williams Christmas. Then as the Mayor’s procession entered the church the Band Played the Pavane, no.1 from Aylesbury Dances by Rob Wiffin. As well as accompanying some of the carols, the Band also played A Winter’s Tale by Philip Sparke, and music from the Disney film Frozen. The service finished with We Wish You a Merry Christmas, after which the Band played White Christmas while mulled wine and mince pies were served to the congregation.
The following Saturday, 7th December, the Band provided music for Fairford Leys Carols in Hampden Square, Aylesbury. Although it wasn’t as cold as some years the weather had been very wet for weeks, but fortunately it stayed dry for most of the time on this occasion. As in recent years young people enacted a nativity play while the crowd joined in singing carols accompanied by the Band. Afterwards the Band played for community singing, including White Christmas, Let it Snow, and The 12 Days of Christmas. Finally everyone had to sing Jingle Bells so Father Christmas would know where to come. Of course, they didn’t sing loud enough and it had to be repeated before he arrived with sweets for the children.
Finally on Friday 20th, well before dawn, a dozen members of the band with their instruments and music stands squeezed into a tiny studio at Mix96, the local radio station, in order to play on the Breakfast Show. In a couple of sessions they first played a selection of Christmas Carols, and later White Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock. Rather different from the station’s usual fare, but let’s hope it brought some Christmas cheer for people on their way to work.