Senior Band
Conductor: Michael Fowles
Rehearses: Sundays (6-8pm) & Wednesdays (8-10pm)
The Senior Band is the organisation's premiere ensemble and competes in the Championship Section.
The Band was founded in its present form in 1906, although records suggest that a band existed in the village many years before that date. Intense change and improvement took place in the early 60's under the guidance of then conductor John Bancroft, and the Band began to teach more and more local children, this gave added imputes to the bands progress to such an extent that from the fourth section in 1967 they began to rise steadily through the sections until reaching their goal which was the Championship section in 1978.
During this period under the baton of Miss Betty Anderson, the Band competed at the British Open Championships whilst still graded in the Second section. Ratby are the only band to ever take the stage at the British Open with a female conductor. They have travelled extensively on the continent and have represented Great Britain eight times at the World Music Contest held every four years in Kerkrade, Holland. On each occasion the Band has been awarded the Gold Medal, a record for the Festival and on the last three occasions in 1997, 2001 and 2005, they were crowned World Champions of their section attaining the Champions banner and medal of distinction.
| CURRENT PLAYERS | |
|---|---|
| Soprano | Tom Ashby |
| Principal Cornet | David Purkiss |
| Solo Cornets | Geoff Wood |
| Keith Langdon | |
| Harvey Rogers | |
| Phil Sturdy | |
| Graham Jacklin | |
| Repiano Cornet | Stuart Bryan |
| Second Cornets | Julie Taylor |
| Demi-Leigh Hurst | |
| Third Cornets | Lynne Plant |
| Sheralyn Newman | |
| Flugelhorn | Guido Damore |
| Solo Horn | Matthew Taylor |
| First Horn | Julie Kenney |
| Second Horn | Julia Hendry |
| Solo Baritone | Kaye Root |
| Second Baritone | Neil Kenney |
| Solo Euphonium | Vacant |
| Second Euphonium | Liz Day |
| Solo Trombone | Becky Moss |
| Tony Bryan | |
| Second Trombone | Rachel Horsewood |
| Bass Trombone | Steven Greenall |
| Eb Bass | Graeme Foulds |
| Nathan Simms | |
| Laura White | |
| Bb Bass | Stuart Venables |
| Greg Webber | |
| Percussion | Steve Plant |
| Ellie Wingett | |
Recent Contest Results
| Year | Contest | Conductor | Pos | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Leicester BBA Contest (Ch section) | Michael Fowles | 3 | |
| 2007 | Spring Festival (Senior Cup) | Steve Sykes | 17 | 12 |
| 2007 | Midlands Area (Ch section) | Brett Baker | 4 | 7 |
| 2006 | Spring Festival (Senior Trophy) | Brett Baker | 4 | 17 |
| 2006 | Midlands Area (Ch section) | Martin Winter | 8 | 6 |
| 2005 | Leicester BBA Contest (Ch section) | Michael Fowles | 2 | 3 |
| 2005 | Kerkrade WMC (1st section) | Michael Fowles | 1 | - |
| 2005 | Spring Festival (Senior Trophy) | Dr Roy Newsome | 11 | 8 |
| 2005 | Midlands Area (Ch section) | Michael Fowles | 9 | 12 |
| 2004 | Pontins (Mortimer Championship) | Stanley Lippeatt | 15 | 18 |
| 2004 | Leicester BBA Contest (Ch section) | Michael Fowles | 2 | 1 |
| 2004 | Spring Festival (Senior Cup) | David Maplestone | 18 | 7 |
| 2004 | Midlands Area (Ch section) | Michael Fowles | 5 | 10 |
| 2003 | West Midlands BBA | Jeremy Wise | 4 | 4 |
| 2003 | Leicester BBA Contest (Ch section) | Jeremy Wise | 2 | 3 |
| 2003 | Wychavon Festival of Brass | Kevin Steward | 8 | 11 |