News

December 2023

Christmas banding 2023

It was a busy Christmas for the band. As well as the Dorchester Abbey Christmas fair December saw us  playing at Cholsey School PTA fair, Wallingford shopping event, Wallingford Town Carols, RAF Benson Winter Wonderland, Cholsey Carolling and our very popular village Christmas Concert

Saturday 2nd December 2023

Christmas fun in Dorchester Abbey

We had a great couple of hours playing at the Dorchester Abbey Christmas Fair. Here is the band playing Jingle Bells with our festive rhythm section.

Sunday 12th November 2023

Wallingford Remembrance Ceremony

On Sunday 12th November, the Remembrance parade took place in Wallingford Town Centre during which the many men and women of Wallingford and elsewhere who died in the first world war, the second world war and in all of the many wars and conflicts that have occurred since were remembered.

The focal point was the War Memorial in the Market Place. There was a parade by marching groups, the Bugler (Jennie from Cholsey Silver Band) sounded the last post, and at 11.00am, an RAF helicopter flew past.

This was followed with the readings of the names on the war memorial and the wreath laying done by the Mayor of Wallingford, Deputy Lieutenant, Freeman (Army and RAF), Deputy Police Commissioner, Members of Parliament, Royal British Legion, Oxfordshire County Council and District Council.

The band played hymns before the event as people gathered and a march at the end of the event. 

Saturday 19th August 2023

Cholsey Horticultural Society Show 

Always great to support this very popular village event and especially on its 80th birthday! 

Sunday 15th July 2023

Wallingford Curfew Bell Celebrations

In 1069, Wallingford was granted an extra hour of curfew by William the Conqueror for allowing his army to cross the Thames in 1066. To this day, the curfew bell still rings every evening around 9pm. Wallingford Town celebrated their curfew bell with an afternoon of dancing, parade and storytelling. Three "trumpeters" from the Cholsey Silver Band played a fanfare as the celebrations drew to a close, announcing the blessing of the bell by the Archdeacon of Dorchester. 

Sunday 9th July 2023

Woodcote Rally 

It was great to be back performing at this popular local fundraiser. We shared a field with tractors, steam engines, vintage cars, hawks and owls, lots of people and sunshine :) 

Sunday 25th June 2023

Concert in Castle Gardens 

Under the shade of a marquee kindly provided by the Wallingford 1155 charity,  the band played for a special event in Castle Gardens on behalf of former Wallingford Mayor Lynda Atkins, and in memory of her parents Betty and Peter Atkins. A memorial bench in honour of Betty's role as three-time Mayor of Wallingford was unveiled as part of this afternoon of music, and tea and cake was served by Wallingford Explorer Scouts under the shade of the magnificent trees in the gardens. The band played "When the Saints" and the "RAF March Past" amongst many others as favourites of Betty and Peter who over the years enjoyed coming to Castle Gardens to hear the band play. 

Sunday 21st May 2023

Mayor's Sunday, Wallingford Marketplace

The band were very honoured to play on Sunday for the installation of the new Wallingford mayor under the shelter of our beautiful town hall in the town market place. 

This event commenced with a police escort accompanying the Mace Bearer, Town Clerk, Mayor’s Cadet and Councillors  walking  from The Town Hall to the Mayor’s home and then back to the Town Hall in readiness for the marching organisations parade, the Salute, and an inaugural service in the Civic and Parish Church of St Mary-le-More. 

Sunday 14th May 2023

Wallingford Car Rally 

We had glorious sun for our sets at the wonderful local fundraiser, the Wallingford Car Rally  https://www.wallingfordcarrally.org.uk 

Thanks to our committee member Marie Claire for the amazing photos! 

Sunday 7th May 2023

Cholsey Coronation Celebrations in the Sun!

Here we are on a very happy and historic occasion in Cholsey playing for the village celebrations for the Coronation of King Charles III.

Weds 3rd May 2023

New website!

Cholsey Silver Band are very grateful to John Wheeler who has set us up with this new website. He has been very gracious in not accepting payment for this invaluable support and so the committee agreed to donate £400 to local charities nominated by John. 

£200 has been donated to Cholsey Volunteers http://www.cholseyvolunteers.org/ and 

£200 to Cholsey Day Centre  https://livewell.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Services/649/Cholsey-Day-Centre 

These charities work to support some of the most vulnerable members of our village community.