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Band News - Spring 2008 
- Bill Swanton (Bb Bass) has recently returned to the Band full time after reaching the ripe old age of 50 after leaving behind the Royal Navy and bright lights of London to take up a position of Lecturer at the Warsash Maritime Academy with the Merchant Navy. He is looking forward to the challenge of improving his knowledge of music and playing ability under our MD Richard, which currently stands as 3 notes learned from previous Royal Marine Bandmasters ('C' - HMS Sultan, 1976, 'G' - HMS Drake, 1989 and 'D' - HMS Daedalus, 1996), one day Bill would like to put these and his fourth not ('E' in 2008, perhaps) into good use by getting back on the Eb Bass. To keep Bill off the streets and to avoid that long list of DIY jobs stuck on notelets to the door of the fridge at home, he intends to play with HMS Sultan Volunteer Band (or indeed any other band that is desperate for a bass player!)Bill has also successfully passed and been accepted into the Hampshire Constabulary as a Special Constable which, Bill says, once trained will in fact put him back on the streets! All this and trying to keep his rusty Volkswagen Camper ship-shape, there is very little time to sleep - no rest for the wicked I hear you say!
- Claire, Lauren (both 3rd cornet) and Georgia (2nd horn) have recently moved up from the training band into the main band and have settled nicely into their playing positions. When Lauren and Georgia joined the training band, their mum Claire thought she would take up the cornet once again after quite a few years absence! Claire, Lauren and Georgia will be competing in their first contest at Torquay on March 8th, 2008. Lauren and Georgia have been riding horses for 4 years now and recently had a horse bought for them by their grandmother (who owned horses herself many years ago). They took over ownership in October 2007, as they would have more practice and be able to compete on their own horse with the added benefit of spending less on lessons....Oh, how wrong that assumption was! 'Digby', (Titchfield lad) is the horse's name, A Dunn (in colour) and of Welsh Hackney breeding, is kept at the livery stables in the Crofton Equestrian Centre at Titchfield. Digby is nearly 4 years old and without a doubt a very handsome horse! Both girls will be off to the Brecon Beacons over the Easter period.....the summer holidays will be spent 'horsing' around everyday!!
- David Carter (2nd Baritone) has just become a great-grandfather for the 17th time! Dave's great grand daughter's name is Isabel and was born at the end of February. Congratulations Dave - I bet it is a VERY expensive time of the year at Christmas!
- The ongoing story of Sam (1st Baritone) and his kitten/lion training - he has had a few problems with his kitten and is now saving up for a uniform and a whip to go with it. Donations will be gratefully received!
- Ann (Solo Horn) has just come back from her holiday in Sri Lanka. Whilst there, she visited a tea plantation, an elephant orphanage and a turtle farm and Ann also swam in the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately, she was limited in her travels and where Ann could go as the Tamil Tigers were active in some areas of the country.
- Steve Coles (Repiano Cornet) has recently bought himself some chickens and has built a coop and run for them in his back garden. Steve and his family are regularly supplied with their own fresh eggs every day!
- Albert Hall (Eb Bass and Deputy Conductor) is attending his eldest grandson's wedding in June. Alex, (Albert's grandson) is a craftsman working for REME (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers) and Hilary, his bride to be, is a nurse. It is going to be a formal wedding, so Albert will have to get out his top hat and tails!
- Tony Harper (Eb Bass) and his two daughters, Natalie and Natasha have been with Gosport Training Band for some time until recently, Tony was promoted to the main Gosport band and is enjoying his new challenge. Tony works for Lucketts Travel and will not only be taking part in the band's forthcoming contest in March, but also will be driving the coach down to Torquay! Our grateful thanks to you, Tony.
- Gosport Silver Band attended and played at a 100th birthday party in January at a home in Newgate Lane, Fareham. The ex-Naval Officer served in the Royal Navy, so the band played a selection of sea shanties which went down rather well. His son made a very generous donation of a £100 to the band.
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