Milestones celebrated by Lewis Merthyr
LEWIS Merthyr Band are looking forward to 2021 as their musical director, Craig Roberts, writes about the future aspirations of the band and celebrates the 85th birthday of a bandsman who has devoted his life to banding and another who has been with the band for 50 years and is retiring as Chair of the band as he has reached his 70th birthday, but is continuing as a player.
“As the New Year beckoned and we all said a fond farewell to 2020, Rhondda’s Lewis Merthyr Band have been celebrating the milestones and achievements of two longstanding members and trustees.
Firstly, the band said a huge and sincere thank you to longstanding Chair and previous Band Manager and Secretary, Mr Paul Williams.
At the band’s recent online Annual General Meeting, Paul retired from the band’s management team after an incredible fifty years of sterling service to Lewis Meerthyr Band, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
The band paid due tribute the following week with the presentation of a photographic portrait and Welsh slate plaque in thanks to “Mr Lewis Merthyr, presented above by current Band Secretary Samantha Bridger”.
Paul will, of course, remain a playing member, Life Member and Trustee of the band, and will now be succeeded as Chair by former Vice Chair Robert Smith, who in turn will be replaced as Vice Chair by Claire Thomas.
Also joining the 2021 band management team are Rhiannon Griffiths and Amie Roberts.
Also marking a major milestone was another Lewis Merthyr Trustee, Ivor England, who recently celebrated his 85th birthday.
Ivor is a former trombonist with the band and was also a miner at the Lewis Merthyr Colliery itself, hence his incredible birthday cake complete with mining theme – and trombone! It was a sad moment in many ways when the photo of the last dram of coal to leave the pit was taken, but many families also breathed a sigh of relief when they no longer had to think about the dangers that their children would be in when they went down the mineshaft in the future. Ivor is on the right centre in the white top.
Ivor has been a fine trombone player having played for some years with the world famous Cory Band.
The Lewis Merthyr Management Team are: Chair – Robert Smith; Vice-Chair – Claire Thomas; Secretary – Samantha Bridger; Treasurer – Gareth Hanson; Band Manager – David Short; Logistics & Equipment Manager – David Griffiths; Premises Manager – Allen Wells; Uniform & Merchandise Manager – Rhiannon Griffiths; Librarian – Rachel Evans; Vice-Librarian – Amie Roberts.
The Trustees of the Lewis Merthyr Band are: Robert Smith (Chair), Ivor England, Gareth Hanson, Brian Paul, Paul Williams
The playing personnel:
■ Principal Cornet– Louise Russell;
■ Solo Cornets –Gareth Hanson, Robert Sweet, Fred Nicholas;
■ Soprano Cornet – Morgan Rees;
■ Repiano Cornet – Samantha Bridger;
■ 2nd Cornets – David Griffiths, Rachel Evans, Belinda Harris;
■ 3rd Cornets – Tyler Webber, Ffion Short, Amie Roberts;
■ Flugel Horn – Robert Smith;
■ Horns – Rhiannon Griffiths, David Brimble, Allen Wells;
■ Baritones – Lynsey Orn, Claire Thomas, Brian Short Paull;
■ Trombones – Nils Richards, Colin Lee Dave Short;
■ Euphoniums – Ron Andrews, Gareth Davies;
■ Eb Basses – Paul Stephens, Elizabeth Homewood, James Davies;
■ Bb Basses – Paul Williams, Howell Billington; and
■ Percussion – Stephen “Fly” Harris, Stuart Griffiths, Joanne Huxton.
With a number of new music and concert projects to work on in the weeks and months ahead and a new rehearsal base on – rather appropriately – Ivor Street, Trehafod.
Lewis Merthyr look forward to a bright future and great year ahead in 2021 when they explore an array of new music.
Much of this new music has been composed for them as part of the Arts Council of Wales supporting the New Directions project.
The band will be getting to grips with Steve Bingham’s Ascension, Chris Marshall’s Homecoming, Andrew Powell’s The Curious Case of The Wolf & The Hawk, Christopher Painter’s transcription of the Mountain Scene from Grace William’s score to The Blue Scar and Dr Mick Wilson’s Concerto for Six String Electric Violin & Brass Band, Stephen Roberts’ World Dances for Brass Band and world percussion and Gareth Wood’s Concerto for Harp & Brass Band, which the band will perform together with former Royal Harpist and Clogau Gold Ambassador Claire Jones.
Also a major work specially written for Lewis Merthyr by Chris Marshall entitled Fulling Mill Lea, involving the story of the Tonypandy Riots which will be performed by the band as part of the 2021 Rhondda Arts Festival.”