Striking up the band again

The occasion was the 40th anniversary of the founding of the original Ringmer School Brass Band which grew and grew from a beginning of just four trumpets and had its heyday in the early 1970s.

There were 50 musicians in the band at the height of its powers and on Saturday 35 of them managed to make it to the concert.

And two hours' rehearsals miraculously produced 1 hours of glorious music.

Some of it was the same music that had been used on a LP record made by the band in 1970.

The first reunion, organised by Lewes resident Steven Green, was held in 1999.

Saturday's reunion was organised by Chichester-based resident Ian Smith who told the Express: 'We were a very happy band at school. That's why we have been only too delighted to come together again.

'The music room was our second home at school and we reached a very high standard, competing successfully against youth and adult bands.

'We still are pretty good. After all, several of us became military band members after leaving school and kept up those high standards through the years.

'Other brave souls, however, had to be found instruments and music on Saturday as they hadn't played for years. They sat down and picked it up and took part brilliantly in the concert.'

So successful was Saturday's reunion that the band members plan to meet again perhaps for the 50th anniversary in 2008 of the opening of the original Ringmer School.