Joe Allen , our band sergeant, flag officer and member of the second baritone section has made the decision to retire as an active bandsman due to some health concerns. Joe was attracted to The Salvation Army a number of years ago, and after becoming a Salvation Army soldier, was eventually invited by Bob Munn, then bandmaster, to become part of NCB as flag officer in 1996. He was then taught to play a brass instrument, eventually becoming a playing member of the Band. We shall miss you Joe and thank you for your service in NCB.

At the beginning of the New Year we welcomed Tom Carr, son of Martin (1st cornet) to our rehearsals. Tom, like all young people transferring to the NCB has to attend rehearsals for six months. This means we currently have three young people undertaking their six months attendances and look forward to them becoming members of NCB.

Please accept my apologies to those of you who have missed reading the reports of NCBs activities due to my recent hospitalization. I would like to thank so many of you who have enquired about my state of health and my convalescence. It will be sometime before I can take my place marching on the front row with the Band, but I am pleased to report that I have already re-commenced playing - providing it is whilst sitting down. I'm afraid that this December, I will be unable to take part in any outdoor carol playing. My other knee will be replaced sometime next year.

My most recent report spoke of Nick Giles playing in Toronto. I have a first-hand report from Major Ted Kimmins, the organiser of the Canadian leg of last years' NCB tour together with some action pictures...

Nick's visit to Canada under the auspicious of Heritage Brass was a great success. He not only played superbly, he was most flexible and co-operative and he seemed to be having the time of his life.

On Saturday (with Heritage Brass) he played one of my all time favourites 'The Song of the Brother'. He played it with great control letting it move where it should and holding back the tempo where it should - outstanding! My second favourite of the night. His next solo was 'Benedictus' and what can I say; control - sound - technique. The whole ball of wax, my favourite of the evening!

By my reckoning that leaves 'Brillante' as my least favourite and that's not fair. He played it brilliantly and the crowd of about 430 loved it - I enjoyed it thoroughly. I guess I'm allowed to have my own opinions.

On Sunday morning at Oshawa he played 'There will be God' (band) and 'The Holy Well' (piano). Both of these pieces were exceptional and they each contributed in a large way to the moving of the service. Nick also played in our learner's band and Young People's Band. Like I said, willing to take part in all that was happening. Norwich should be proud, [we are] to have brought along such a fine representative.

At a recent Band rehearsal, during the 'devotions' led by our assistant band sergeant, Phil Green brought the following story to us and I thought you might be interested to read it for yourselves...

A man was driving his car down a busy road and was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman driver, on approaching a junction the lights changed to amber, doing the right thing he stopped even though he could have accelerated through and beaten the red light.

The tailgating woman hit the roof and the horn screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the lights with him. As she was still in mid rant, she heard a tap on her side window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. He asked her to get out of the car. She was arrested, taken to the police station where she was searched, photographed, fingerprinted and put into a holding cell.

After a couple of hours she was taken to an interview room where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said "I am very sorry for this mistake, but you see; I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off at the guy  front of you, cursing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What would Jesus do' and 'Smile God loves you' stickers on the back bumper and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the boot lid. Naturally I assumed you had stolen the car!" Are you what you profess to be?

NCBs Christmas programme has got off to a good start with carols being played in the city centre and the band's own 'Joy to the World' concert. This week we are bringing the Christmas message to the people of Thorpe Marriott in an open-air evening of Christmas carols. On Friday we travel to Gorleston-on-sea to give a Christmas concert at St Andrew's Church organised by good friend of the Army, Tony Mallion.

May God bless you,
Michael Whybrow - Band Secretary