What a special week it has been for all of us at Eagley Band as we have continued to prepare superbly for the 2021 National Finals in Cheltenham whilst also celebrating the 60th birthday of our MD Chris Wormald!

Before Monday evening’s rehearsal began, the bandroom had been secretly decorated with banners and multi-coloured balloons and Chris was presented with a large bag packed full of presents ranging from hospitality at the 2022 Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone next July to his favourite tea bags, a wide variety of his favourite chocolates and his obligatory Ribena of course! Just before the rehearsal ended we then presented Chris with a surprise cake which we had ordered especially, featuring an all-over icing photo montage from the last five years since Chris returned to conduct, all in Eagley green.

Monday night was also our Bass Trombonist Declan Cullen’s birthday and Chris presented Dec with a card and gifts as he arrived at the bandroom – and what a great rehearsal we had with just four weeks to go to the National Finals. Everyone played brilliantly. Then at rehearsal on Thursday evening it was the turn of our longest serving Cornet player Paul Field (over 30 years with Eagley) to have his birthday on a rehearsal night and once again Chris presented him with a card and gifts on his arrival at the bandroom.

The following evening, on Friday night, the band organised a surprise 60th birthday meal for our MD at Ciao Baby Italian restaurant in Egerton, with 40 seats booked up – and what another fantastic night it was for everyone. Three quarters of the band were able to attend, a number of former players were able to be back with us too, the food and stories were as superb as always and our Baritone player Tina Banks had secretly baked an incredible chocolate cake to bring along and present to Chris, complete with indoor fireworks and some questionable singing by the forty attendees!

The meal out was a great opportunity for everyone to dress up and get together socially again after nearly two years since our last band meal had been possible and it was literally the perfect way to round off a really special week of birthday celebrations for not only Chris but Dec and Paul as well. May they all have many more happy birthdays and years with us at Eagley.