West of England band championship winners Helston Town Band celebrate

Under the baton of their professional conductor, John Berryman, and attending their first competition since the Covid outbreak, the band travelled to Cheltenham Racecourse, where adjudicators praised them for their performance of the late Cornish composer, Goff Richards’ The Aeronauts.

The band was told: “An excellent performance all round. Well balanced, rhythmic detail and dynamic contrast a plenty. Well done all soloists and great control, musical director. Thank you.”

It was a special day for the band, as it was their first competition since the outbreak of Covid, following a nervous return to outdoor rehearsals in the summer, after a considerable period without meeting.

The win puts the band back in their rightful place as, having made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Regional Championships held in March 2020, for Covid safety reasons, the band had unfortunately been relegated to the National Second Section – making their latest success and promotion back up to the First Section even more richly deserved and fitting.

John Berryman, the band’s Professional Conductor and a remarkable 82 years young, displays the trophy.

Musical director Kevin Johns has worked hard to bring the band back up to a good standard, but has faced struggles. Just three weeks ago the band had to shut down for ten days, due to a Covid outbreak amongst its ranks, following a Sponsored Blow.

It was only a couple of days before the contest that the band finally had a full rehearsal, where all players were present.

Messaging the band following the win, a delighted Kevin said: “I can’t emphasise enough how proud it makes me feel to think how well we played today. Well done to everyone. Onwards and upwards.”

Thanking Kevin and citing the band’s success as a testimony to his relentless hard work as musical director, the band’s chairman, Ben Curnow, said that he was still flying high after Saturday’s success, adding that it was one of the best days he could recall and a fantastic return to proper banding with the band family.

He also thanked John Berryman, who he said had become a real friend to the band, along with The Godolphin Club for allowing the band to use their premises for their rehearsals, and all those in the town who continue to support the organisation, helping it to flourish.

The band now has an invitation to attend the National Finals, back at Cheltenham, in September.

Serving Helston bandsman, Paul Jenkin, celebrates the band’s success and also his 30th wedding anniversary weekend with wife, Helen

Porthleven Town Band and Redruth Town Band also took part in the competition, with Porthleven coming sixth out of 14 in the third section under the direction of Tom Bassett.

Port trustee Lynne Lees said: "The board of trustees are so proud of Tom and our players. Our band members are dedicated, committed, talented and loyal. Their tenacity shows with this excellent result.

"They've had two years of not contesting and the other innumerable challenges that the pandemic brought and the whole band has stayed united throughout this. It's these players who took us to Cheltenham and we cannot thank them enough."

And it was good news for Redruth Town Band, which won in the third section.

Writing on its Facebook page, Redruth Town Band said: We only went and won! Winners of the third section, promotion to the second section and off to the National Finals. Absolutely over the moon. What a weekend for Cornish banding."