Flowers Brass Band
Encyclopedia
The Flowers Band is an English brass band
, based in Gloucester
, is now in its 40th year. It was formed as a result of the disbandment of the Royal Gloucester Hussars
(Territorial Army
) Brass Band. After negotiation with the Ministry of Defence
, the instruments were purchased and most of the former R.G.H. bandsmen, together with other local players, formed the City of Gloucester Band. Since then the band has had a variety of sponsors including Whitbread
in the Community and Flowers Brewery. Much success was gained under the 'Flowers' name in the contest field. The band rose rapidly up the Championship Section ladder in 1986 where it has since established itself in the top 20 of the Brass Band World Rankings table.
In 1998 the Flowers brewery closed. In the same year the band won the title of the Grand Shield which gained it a place at the British Open Championships held in the Symphony Hall, Birmingham. This is a feat the band repeated in 2007. In 2005 the band announced a new sponsorship deal with insulating concrete form manufacturers Flowers UK Limited. This brought with it a name change for the band to the now well-known and respected "Flowers Band" of today.
In January 2006 the band won the most lucrative prize in banding, The Butlins Mineworkers Open Championships which netted the band £6000 and the CISWO Championship trophy. The band was the 2007 'Champion Band of the West of England', an accolade which it has previously held in 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2000. The continued success of the band has led to fifteen appearances at the 'All England International Masters' held at the Cambridge Corn Exchange where it maintained a consistent 5th position in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and took the runners up spot in 2006, beating the European and World champions in the process.
The Flowers Band records regularly for Radio 2's 'Listen To The Band' and has appeared on BBC 1's 'Songs of Praise'. Flowers have recorded several CDs, A Bouquet From Flowers (1992), Wonders Of The World (2004), The Incredible PolySteel Band (2007), plus numerous other recordings with Brett Baker (principal trombone, Black Dyke Band) and Aspirations with Shoichiro Hokazono. They have also appeared as guest artists with British electronica duo Goldfrapp
on their Mercury Music Prize nominated album 'Felt Mountain]].
In 2009 The band won the Yeovil Entertainment title for the third consecutive year. In addition the band qualified to appear in the national brassband finals at The Royal Albert Hall in October representing the West of England.
The band were crowned West of England Champions in 2010 representing the area at The Royal Albert Hall. In January 2011 the band again picked up the most valuable prize in Brass Band Competitions by winning the Butlins Minworkers Championships for a second time.
Brass band (British style)
A British-style brass band is a musical ensemble comprising a standardised range of brass and percussion instruments. The modern form of the brass band in the United Kingdom dates back to the 19th century, with a vibrant tradition of competition based around local industry and communities...
, based in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
History
The Flowers Band, based in GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, is now in its 40th year. It was formed as a result of the disbandment of the Royal Gloucester Hussars
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1795 following William Pitt's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial...
(Territorial Army
Territorial Army
The Territorial Army is the part time volunteer force of the British Army. With around 35,500 members, the TA forms about a quarter of the overall manpower strength of the British Army. TA members regularly volunteer to serve overseas on operations, either with TA units, or as individuals...
) Brass Band. After negotiation with the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, the instruments were purchased and most of the former R.G.H. bandsmen, together with other local players, formed the City of Gloucester Band. Since then the band has had a variety of sponsors including Whitbread
Whitbread
Whitbread PLC is a global hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company headquartered in Dunstable, United Kingdom. Its largest division is Premier Inn, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK with around 580 hotels and over 40,000 rooms. Its Costa Coffee chain has around 1,600 stores across 25...
in the Community and Flowers Brewery. Much success was gained under the 'Flowers' name in the contest field. The band rose rapidly up the Championship Section ladder in 1986 where it has since established itself in the top 20 of the Brass Band World Rankings table.
In 1998 the Flowers brewery closed. In the same year the band won the title of the Grand Shield which gained it a place at the British Open Championships held in the Symphony Hall, Birmingham. This is a feat the band repeated in 2007. In 2005 the band announced a new sponsorship deal with insulating concrete form manufacturers Flowers UK Limited. This brought with it a name change for the band to the now well-known and respected "Flowers Band" of today.
In January 2006 the band won the most lucrative prize in banding, The Butlins Mineworkers Open Championships which netted the band £6000 and the CISWO Championship trophy. The band was the 2007 'Champion Band of the West of England', an accolade which it has previously held in 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2000. The continued success of the band has led to fifteen appearances at the 'All England International Masters' held at the Cambridge Corn Exchange where it maintained a consistent 5th position in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and took the runners up spot in 2006, beating the European and World champions in the process.
The Flowers Band records regularly for Radio 2's 'Listen To The Band' and has appeared on BBC 1's 'Songs of Praise'. Flowers have recorded several CDs, A Bouquet From Flowers (1992), Wonders Of The World (2004), The Incredible PolySteel Band (2007), plus numerous other recordings with Brett Baker (principal trombone, Black Dyke Band) and Aspirations with Shoichiro Hokazono. They have also appeared as guest artists with British electronica duo Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
on their Mercury Music Prize nominated album 'Felt Mountain]].
In 2009 The band won the Yeovil Entertainment title for the third consecutive year. In addition the band qualified to appear in the national brassband finals at The Royal Albert Hall in October representing the West of England.
The band were crowned West of England Champions in 2010 representing the area at The Royal Albert Hall. In January 2011 the band again picked up the most valuable prize in Brass Band Competitions by winning the Butlins Minworkers Championships for a second time.