News...
3rd February 2007 - Concert Ross on Wye
The first concert of the season was held in St Marys Church in Ross on Wye. Playing to a
capacity audience the band the band gave an entertaining programme including solos form
Dan Robson on cornet with 'Virtuosity', Lynette Wild on Horn with 'Episode' Rob Hunt on
Euphonium with 'Shannondore' and Bob Baggot on Cornet with 'Meditation From Thais'.

Although a very cold night comments such as 'excellent' and you are 'just the best' were past
to the band. With many taking the Bands CD home with them!
16th February 2007 - Band Awards
Held at the Jaguar Sports and Social Club the band caught up
with its belated annual awards ceremony. As is now tradition,
the bands 'unique' form of awards were given to various players
for making their mark throughout the year. Awards such as
'The Right Guard Award', 'The Sharing of Culture Award',' The
Head and Shoulders Award' to name a few and all in good
humour!
More seriously the 'Bandsman of the year' chosen by Musical Director, Dave Lea was
awarded to Simon Blacker on percussion and the 'Players Player Award' chosen by
members of the band presented to Rob Hunt on Euphonium. The band would like to pass on
their congratulations to the winners or the 2006 awards.

Here you see Dave Lea present 'The Bandsman of the Year Award 2006' to Simon Blacker.
10th June 2007 - Xbox Live Football Tournament
The band was pleased to support the Xbox Live football
Tournament held in Birmingham on the 10th June. A
combination of easy listening music and football related songs
were the order of the day entertaining football teams between
matches. Here you see bandsman Kevin Austin in action.
22nd June 2007 - Concert for Mary Ann Evans Hospice
The band returned to the Bedworth Civic Hall to support the work of the Mary Ann Evans
Hospice based in Nuneaton. Playing to a full hall the band presented music from across
the complete musical spectrum. Featured soloists included Bob Baggot - cornet, Kevin Lea
- Trombone, Rob Hunt & Kevin Mackie Euphonium and Andy Bates - Flugel.
The band was pleased to raise over £1,800 for the hospice.
8th September 2007 - Picnic Proms at Bosworth Water Trust
After an uncertain year the band was thrilled to perform at the
now famous 'Picnic Proms Concert' held at Bosworth Water.
Although the original date had to be cancelled due to flooding the
mood was certainly not dampened on the re-arranged night. The
band played traditional proms music with a Pomp and
Circumstance finally with a full firework display.
16th September 2007 - Wychavon Entertainment Contest
It had been over six years since the band took part in the Wychavon Entertainment Contest
and this year was to be another memorable performance by the band. The Cornet feature
'Hora Staccato' opened the twenty-minute programme followed by the Trombone Solo ' The
Volunteer' played by Kevin Lea. The mood was dramatically changed with Kenneth Downie's
meditation 'In Perfect Peace' followed by Tchaikovsky's 'Finale from Symphony No. 4'.
Once again the band hit the crowd with the encore 'O Hawaii Five-O' with now compulsory
Mexican waves! The band was awarded the runners up prize and the best soloist prize was
presented to Kevin Lea for his trombone solo 'The Volunteer'.
3rd November 2007 - Jaguar Band Annual Awards
The Daresbury Hotel in Warrington was the venue for this year's
Annual Awards. Under traditional fashion the band was entertained
with the presentation of numerous 'not so serious' awards for
achievements throughout the year. Some highlights included
Trombone virtuoso Julian (Wycliffe) Smith with outstanding Jazz
breaks through out the meal, Kevin Mackie with his stand up
routine and Martin Barnet singing with his tuba.

Musical Director Dave Lea announced this year's winner of the
'Bandsman of the Year Award' to go to Hayden Fews with special
mentions for the contributions from Mick Wild, Julian Smith and
and collectively the new band members. The 'Players Player
Award' chosen by the band members this year was presented to
Trombonist Kevin Lea.

The following day saw the band play compete in Pontins
Prestatyn. Although on this occasion the band did not make the
prizes we are delighted that 12-year-old cornet player Kaitlin Wild
was presented with the Youngest Player Award.
Here you see Dave Lea (Musical Director), Hayden Fews, Mick Blacker (Band Chairman),
Kevin Lea and Kaitlin Wild with thier awards.
24th November 2007 - Jaguar Fanfare Team light up Christmas
Switching on the lights in Nuneaton and Bedworth was given a boost this year with the
Jaguar Fanfare Team adding that special ingredient to welcome in Christmas.
24th December 2007 - Christmas Carolling to close the year!
After a busy year the band joined in the festivities with the
traditional carol playing for 'The Jaguar Long Service
Association Christmas dinner', 'Brindley Place - Birmingham'
and for the residences of Town Thornes - Rugby (The Ben
Charity).

One resident told us "We really appreciate you taking the time
to visit us at this busy time, it means a lot for those residents
who are less mobile to hear you". "It isn't Christmas till the
Jaguar band has played!"...she added

Here you see members of the band with some of the residents
and playing in the 'Jaguar Wing' of Town Thornes

We would like to wish all our friends a very Happy Christmas
and New Year.
10th May 2008 - Third Place at Senior Blackpool
After a busy few weeks practising for the Senior Cup the bands
efforts were rewarded by third place. Elgar Variations by Martin
Ellerby offered many challenges for all parts of the band.

In addition to being awarded third place principal euphonium David
Johnston was presented with the best Soloist prize and the band
receives an invitation to compete in the Grand Shield 2009. Here is
Dave with his award.
13th May 2008 - Invitation to compete at the All England Masters International
The band has accepted an invitation to take part in the "All England Masters International
Brass Band Festival" which takes place at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge on Sunday 25th
May.

Considered one of the best international contests the band has stepped in at the last minute
due to one of the competing bands having to withdraw.

"It is a great honour to be asked to compete at the masters and the band did not hesitate to
agree to take part." states Band Manager Simon Archer. "It is however extremely short notice
giving us only two weeks to prepare rehearsals and the obvious logistics that go with such an
event. Members of the band have dropped everything and re-arranged their diaries in order for
them to take part; such is the commitment of our players. We of course acknowledge the
sacrifice that their families also make to allow this to happen and wish to thank them all."

The invitation to play at the Masters follows on from intense rehearsals for the Senior Cup last
weekend where the band was awarded third place and the best soloist prize.

The band last competed at the Masters in 2001,2002, and 2003. This year see the band
compete against twenty-one bands from England, Wales, Scotland, Switzerland, France and
Belgium.

It's all go at Jaguar!
25th October 2008 - Concert Holy Trinity Church Eccleshall
The band was pleased to accept an invitation to perform
at The Holy Trinity Church in Eccleshall. The concert
was received extremely well by an appreciative
audience. The bands programme kicked off with
'Horizon's by Paul Lovett Cooper and followed by music
from the Show 'Cabare't. The first soloist slot featured
principal cornet Darren Lea giving a fine performance of
William Himes 'Jubilance' which was followed by
Lynette Wild on Solo Horn playing the classic 'Over the
Rainbow'. A variety of music then followed including
'Comedy Tonight', 'Bobby Shaftoe', 'Winter' from the
Four Seasons and 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of
Doom'.
'Malaguena' started the second half followed by the
second soloist slot. Dave Johnson gave his own unique
version of 'Carnival Cocktail' on Euphonium followed by
the Andy Bates with 'Marianne'. 'Sullivan Fantasy', Duke
Ellington's 'Caravan', 'I know Thou Art Mine' and 'Laudate
Dominum' finish what was a memorable concert for both
band and audience. We hope it will not be long before
we will be able to play in this fabulous church again!
75th June 2008 - Twininig Feastival for Droitwich Spa, England and Bad Ems, Germany
The band has played in Droitwich Spa on a number of occasions; this time was to share in the
celebrations of Twining with Bad Ems in Germany. The concert gave the opportunity for our
friends from Germany the opportunity to hear some traditional Brass Band music, in Jaguar
Bands own style of course. At the end of the concert was a traditional firework display followed
by the band leading the dancing late into the night with its big-band set.
16th November 2008 -Leicestershire Brass Band Association
This weekend the band took part in the Leicester Open Brass Band
Contest for the first time. Playing 'Elgar Variations' by Martin Ellerby
the band was awarded Runners-Up, with Andy Bates being awarded
the best instrumentalist prize for his Flugel solo and Kevin Lea, Colin
Randle and Richard Orme awarded for the best trombone section.

Here you see Andy with his Prize for the best instrumentalist.
20th December 2008 - Jaguar Band Childrens Christmas Concert
This year the band held its Christmas Concert at the Holy
Trinity Church in Coventry. Joining the band on stage was the
Daventry Music Centre Brass, Templars Primary School Choir
and Whoberley Hall Primary School Choir.All to gether over
50 children took part in the concert. Some the bands items
included Christmas Festival, Do you hear What I hear, Huron
Carol - Soloist Darren Lea, Rudolph, Three King Swing. Here
you see Allan Smith entertaining the children in Three King
Swing.
Held at the Birmingham Town Hall, with choir members from all over the midlands totally 500
the band, conducting by Paul Leddington-Wright, accompanied specially arranged hymns
throughout the 8 hour recording session. In addition the band was pleased to support vocalist
Jonathon Ansell from G4 on two solo items.
11th January 2009 - Recording for Songs of Praise
The band was also pleased to share the
stage with the amazing Swingle Singers.
Although it was a long recording session the
band thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Heulwen Lewis from the BBC stated "As
always, it's has been a delight and a
pleasure working with the band".

Here you see BBC presenter Aled Jones
relaxing with some of the band members.
The first of the two programmes will be
broadcast on 31st May 2009.