City of Southampton (Albion) Band » News

New players welcome (especially trombones and basses)!

mark — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:58:52 +0000

The band is always pleased to welcome new players. We are a non-competing band who play a variety of different concerts throughout the year. These include playing at local bandstands, playing cruise liners away, the London Marathon, leading the Southampton Rememberance parade, providing music for formal dinners, playing at certain organisation’s reunion events and occasional tours abroad.

In particular we are looking for bass and trombone players at the moment to supplement our numbers.

If you are interested in playing then either contact our secretary Emily Akerman at secretary@cosab.co.uk or just turn up for rehearsal. We rehearse on a Monday night from 7:30pm at the Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre just off Burgess Road in Swaythling, Southampton. We have some instruments available for those who don’t have their own.

Band presented with City of Southampton Award

mark — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:00:30 +0000

At the Southampton Mayor making ceremony on the 18th May the band were selected for a City of Southampton award in recognition of the band services to the city over the years. The award has been in place for a number of years and is only awarded on a strictly limited basis. Nick Dawson our Musical Director received the award from the Mayor of Southampton on behalf of the band.

President of COSAB made Sheriff of Southampton

mark — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:48:27 +0000

The President of the City of Southampton (Albion) Band, Councillor Derek Burke, was made Sheriff of Southampton at the recent Mayor making ceremony on the 18th May. Congratulation to Derek on receiving this honour. A picture of Derek in his sheriff robes is shown below.

Round Table Dinner

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:08:06 +0000

The band are playing at the De Vere Hotel on March 5th for the annual Southampton Round table banquet and ball.

An unusual request

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:18:54 +0000

The band recently received an unusual request from Abdul Salam to play whilst he proposed to his girlfriend Shariah Haque. He had decided that the perfect spot to do this was at the picturesque location of Reinfield House in the New Forest.

And so on Saturday, 2nd October to the accompaniment of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from the Lion King Abdul got down on one knee and proposed to Shariah. Fortunately, for everybody involved, she accepted his proposal.

Pictures of the happy occasion have been added to the website on the gallery page.

August

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:08:11 +0000

August and the early part of September have been a fairly busy period for the band. We had concerts every weekend with the exception of the bank holiday weekend. On the 7th August we played at David Lawson’s wedding to Diana. David has been a core member of the band for many years and it was a pleasure for the band to play at his wedding. The following two weekends the band played at Southampton Docks for the sailing of the P&O cruise ship, Arcadia. The passengers were sent on their way to the strains of tunes like “Anchors Aweigh”, “A Life on the Ocean Wave” and “Sailing”. Finally, on the 5th September, the band went down to East Wittering to support the Cornwall Clay Miners Reunion weekend to play a concert that included a number of traditional Cornish songs.

The band now have three weeks off before our second trip of the year to Bournemouth to play at the bandstand in the Lower Gardens on Sunday 26th September. We will be playing two concerts there, one at 11:00am and the second at 15:00pm.

David Lawson’s Marriage

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:32:23 +0000

Congratulations to David Lawson (solo cornet) who married Diana on Saturday (7th August). The band were there to provide the music for the ceremony held at St Nicholas’ Church in Stoneham Lane. Despite the variable weather the service went well and the music was well appreciated. We’re now waiting to see how long it takes David to persuade Diana to join the band!

Look out for photos from the happy event coming soon.

P&O Cruise – Oceana

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:49:40 +0000

On the 30th May the band played the first of three concerts at the dockside for P&O ferries leaving Southampton. The band have had a history of playing for these occasions and it is a really great way of sending people off on their holidays abroad. To see all the passengers lined along the deck as the boat sails out of the dock is a sight to be seen.

It’s our 90th Anniversary Year

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:12:37 +0000

Okay, we’ll admit it – our attempts to keep this website up to date with the latest news from the band and photos of our engagements failed.

So let’s have another go.

The City of Southampton (Albion) Band is 90 years old this year and whilst there are no specific events to mark it we will be trying to make it a special year.

Later on, when I find the list, I will be updating the engagement list with the various performances already booked. I can reveal now however that we have heard from Bournemouth that we will be on the Pinewalk Bandstand on July 25th and September 26th this year so put those dates in your diary.

Also we will be going to Portugal and hopefully in the next few weeks this website will contain all the info regarding out engagements over there.

Sad News

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:36:17 +0000

The band is very sad to say that our secretary, Robbie Henderson, has passed away after a long fight with cancer.

Robbie worked tirelessly for the band in his role as secretary going far beyond the expected norms researching engagements, venues and promoting the band through0ut the locality.

The band played at a service in Robbie’s memory held on Wed 4th March, Chandlers Ford Methodist Church.