Band day:Sam's day

These both written pre lockdown

I thought about entitling this 76 trombones for reasons which will become apparent. The Band Day was held at Whitby Pavilion  and our attendance ( during our visit in Feb ) was because grandchildren Alex and Ellen were both playing. The idea of the day was to assess local bands and an experienced adjudicator commented in every class. The contest part of the day was rather limited as every class except one had only one entrant.

Ellen who is still a novice on the clarinet  played in a novice ensemble WOW( this is something of Whitby, I forget exactly ). This is a band assembled of young instrumentalists who attend the Whitby music centre. To be honest the slow pace at which they played prevents full enjoyment but still a creditable effort I thought.

Alex played the trombone in the Whitby Jazz Collective. It is very clear that this is the favourite genre of Mr Cross, one of the teachers. In a sense this was an odd entrant as it was completely unlike anything else. It adhered to the jazz band norms with individual instrumentalists playing solo items all individually applauded. Clearly these solo’s were by the more advanced students. I was slightly amused that Mr Cross started in the traditional foot tapping way and also joined in the playing as well as conducting.

For me the highlight was the Esk Valley concert band. Alex also played in this. It was much larger than other bands and the volume and richness of sound benefited. Although not a brass band it very much tilted towards brass instrumentalists with large trombone, horn and trumpet sections- perhaps not quite 76 but certainly a lot. Conducted by the music school principal clearly this band was his pride and joy.

Separately Alex has been playing as an individual and in the evening we enjoyed his rendition of Copacabana which was recorded on a smartphone for dissemination to the wider family.

Sam’s day

We have been to the funeral of Sam’s husband. Sam ( for Samantha) was Alison’s best friend at school and over the years has become a friend of all the family. I didn’t really know her husband. As her old friends we went to her wedding only about 18 months ago but really it wasn’t until the eulogy at the funeral that I heard about his life.

Sam has had a life dogged by ill health and ill fortune. Throughout it all she has remained a cheery, vivacious lady. She herself suffers from a liver ailment which means she cannot have children. This started in her twenties and has meant long periods of incapacity. Her first marriage in her twenties ended in divorce. We attended the wedding in Cyprus. I well remember her new husband’s grandmother saying he was too immature for marriage and sure enough they divorced after a couple of years.

 After rattling around for a while it did seem she had found her partner in John. Although himself a divorcee it seemed she had found the stability she needed. John suffered from liver problems which made a transplant necessary, then he suffered leukaemia, recovering from both. However he then had a brain tumour which ultimately led to his death. She seems to be taking it well although to what extent it is a “brave face” I’m not sure.

I remember fondly that when I was at home after my stroke she visited. She was so charming and cheerful that it did boost my morale. She always dispenses the most outrageous gossip in most harmless, non judgemental  way. I never know quite what to believe; I suspect not a lot.

I hope her fortunes improve. She deserves much better.