How five musician mates became a full Cold Ash Brass band

Cold Ash Brass, which is now a regular at village events, started life as an idea between five friends – to create a band that would appeal to youngsters.
Band secretary Paul Sanders, an original member, said: “There were five of us who had known each other for many years and we wanted to get young people into a band.”
On its very first meeting, held on April 14, 2003, the original members set out to be up and playing by the Cold Ash Show in August of the same year.
Mr Sanders continued: “We met that target, and fielded a band of 21 that day, with a 90-minute repertoire to show for it. That was pretty marvellous, and it has been a success story ever since.”
The same year, the group also took on three other events, at which it has continued to perform ever since – the Christmas concert in St Mark’s Church,the Cold Ash Mummers’ local performances and accompanying the carols at local pubs for the Talking Newspapers charity.
Just five years later, and the band was ready to take on the competition, entering the National Brass Band Championship. Members came home celebrating, having taken third place out of 24th.
Since then, competition performances have gone from strength to strength and the band has been promoted from fifth section championships to third, and it has set its sights on being promoted to second section next year.
Mr Sanders added: “Ten years on, and we have had a great deal of fun.
“I didn’t expect it to fail; I wouldn’t have done it if I expected it to fail.
“You get out of these things what you put into them and we have put so much into it. I’m not surprised it has become a successful institution.”
Now with 30 players, two more than is strictly needed to be considered a full complement, the band’s next show will be its spring concert on Saturday, May 25, at St Mark’s Church, Cold Ash. Admission is £6 on the door.