Avonbank Crosses The Pond

October 2008

During 2008 Avonbank (Evesham) Brass band reach the grand old age of 60. But far from taking things easy, as most 60 year olds would be contemplating, the band did the opposite!

On Friday 24th October Avonbank crossed the Atlantic on a visit to our twin town Evesham, New Jersey, U.S.A.

What a fantastic, successful trip this proved to be.

But a trip like this does not just happen, it takes lots and lots of organising and paying for. So before the details and stories, comes the THANKS.

On this side of the pond HUGE thanks must go to our band President Diana Raphael. Diana is part of the twinning committee and she has worked tirelessly in the organisation and fundraising for the band. We know how much time and effort Diana has put into this trip and these thanks are hardly sufficient.

The Twinning Committee : For all their support and help organizing the trip.

F.A.B.B. : Our support group just keeps on doing the business for us. Not only did they help us raise money for our trip, they purchased for us a new set of stand banners.... and very smart they look to!

John Raphael : Evesham UK’s Town Crier. John came to the States with the band and added that touch of ‘Olde England’ with his costume. John also acted as M.C. for a number of our concerts. Thank you John, your wit and humour was fantastic and showed our Town, County and Country to be a great place to reside.

Alan Robbins : Alan, the bands Eb bass player did a vast amount of organising and liaising with the travel agents. The flights and traveling to and fromthe airports went without a hitch, not a coincidence, thank you Alan and your good lady wife Denise.

Marc Robbins : Marc was the treasurer for the trip. His tight control of the purse strings gave us the best use of our hard earned cash.

Nikki Tucker : Nikki plays solo horn for the Band of the West Mercia Constabulary but did not play with us on the trip, but her husband Byron played cornet. Nikki however volunteered to be the bands photographer and what a great job she did. Results of her work will appear on this page very soon. Thank you Nikki, really very much appreciated.

On the American side there was a huge amount of work done to prepare for our visit.
One man stands out, an organizer, a true gent and really nice bloke, Mr. Tom Riveto.

All our hosts : What can we say, with out you our trip was A) impossible B) just a holiday. You made it so much more than a holiday, you welcomed us into your homes and gave us the experience of your Country, a trip of a lifetime. No thanks on this site are sufficient to express how we feel, but we can try, THANK YOU.

The Mayor of Evesham NJ : Thank you for welcoming us to you Town and making us feel so welcome.

The Evesham New Jersey Twinning Committee : Just like the UK committee these people worked so hard to make us welcome.

The Bus Driver : Sorry Sir, don’t know your name, but thanks for the ride!

Atlantic Brass Band : (Great party!) Thank you for the loan of the percussion equipment, the music stands and for organizing the concert. Special thanks go to Sal Scarpa the MD, Jack Deal the flugel player and all round nice guy, Dr. Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, trumpet player extraordinaire and fantastic host. (A fine selector of ale and pizza too!) Remember, next time you are in the UK please call. Also, Jack & Ric, The Whit Friday Marches??? Is it a date?

The people of Evesham NJ who we will never forget. Thank you for your welcome, your encouragement and your hospitality.

Finally : To the everyone we have not mentioned who has helped raise funds, travel and welcomed us. Especially those band members who put in lots of extra work this past year to make the trip possible but couldn’t make the trip themselves. THANK YOU.

Keep checking this page for photographs and stories of Avonbank in the States.