View Guestbook

It's wonderful to see the ADCB is still together and producing great concerts, I played in the Brass section, Trumpet, during 1977-1983 and enjoyed the two competitions we took part in Vienna. All the very best

Hi all
was great to catch up with you all at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and I must admit you brought a tear to my eye playing the Dam Busters. (Was my dad's favorite tune by the band).

Keep up the good work and hope to see you all again very soon. I never know I might bring my clarinet over to the rehearsal during half term :)

We attended our first concert with the AD Band on 11th September - Last Night of the Proms. We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and thought the Band was excellent. It will certainly not be our last visit. Reg and Sylvia Adey

Just been to the "Last Night of the Proms" concert. After following the band for many years, I can honestly say this was probably the best concert yet. The program was both very entertaining and well balanced. On this performance, you don't need the para's !
WELL DONE.

I was so touched to find a link to the website on the BFS and to read about the history-to-date of the Band and the sad demise of Vi.
I played flute with AD Concert Band from 1981, aged seven years old. I still have the photograph and fond memories of playing a flute solo at a very young age, under the guidance. encouragement and direction of Arthur and the support of Vi. I also remember their son, Terry fulfilling a vital role in organising the room at Aston University and their daughter being a talented singer. Moreover, the older players guided me and developed my confidence so since then I have continued to study music, pariticipate in masterclasses and I have relished playing the flute and piccolo in many music groups and solo for Charity events.
I still live in Birmingham and I would love to rejoin the Band in the near future.

Hello good to see the old band still going on. I played percusion from 79 to 85. So sad to hear of the passing of Vi my old piano teacher. I learnt such a lot from her, which is still being utilised today as I ply my trade of itinerant Mandolin Player with the Moseley Village Band.
The site has sparked some really good memories especially the Germany trip of 83 and the concerts at the Rep and Pocklington Place.
Best Wishes for the future

Hello from Arthur & Vi Doyle's daughter Gill & granddaughter Claire! Following on from Pauls message, here is another message from Gill, Terry & all the family......
To thank you for your kindness & sympathy at a time when it was deeply appreciated. The total raised in memory of Vi was £715.00 which has been donated to Keech Cottage Childrens Hospice here in Bedfordshire.
On the day after what would have been Vi's 101st birthday we have amazing memories of her wonderful 100th birthday celebrations last year and would again like to thank the A D Concert Band, Trevor & everyone who attended and helped make it such a great day for Vi.
We hope to make it to St James Park to see the band next week, kindest Regards, Gill, Claire & all the family

Hello everyone,
It is good to see that you are still going strong. After I left the band and moved back to Sweden I started to play bass clarinet, which was cool!
However, I do not play any instrument at the moment. AD will always bring me good memories =)

Linda- the Swede on third clarinet

'In loving memory of Violet Doyle' Message from Paul Handley, her Grandson, ex piano pupil and also Arthur Doyle my Grandfather was my first trombone teacher!

I would like to thank Trevor for attending my Nanna's funeral, it was also very touching to see some ex-members of the band, some I can remember from when we took part in The Vienna Music Festival, the first year I went, we came 2nd out of the whole World! It was such a great time and my Grandfather was so proud!
The hardest thing was writing and delivering the eulogy at my Nanna's funeral, I mentioned the 100th birthday celebration my Mother Gill had organised last summer, and once again would like to thank The AD Band for really making my Nanna's day special. I will never forget watching her smiling and tapping her hand and feet in time to the music, especially during the older numbers in the performance that dated back from when the band started out.
Its a real legacy to my late Grandfather the band is still going strong, he would be very proud of everyone that keeps this going forwards,
I hope to see you in St James park in the summer, as I now live in London, I will try to bring Terry and Gill too as well as other members of our family,
Kindest Regards, Paul Handley

Sad to hear of Vi Doyle’s passing – a lovely lady.

My late Brother, Doug, began tuba lessons with Arthur at Churchfield Comprehensive, West Bromwich back in the 60s. I was already paying French horn in Arthur’s “Elyod” brass group by then and learned a lot from him about interpretation, phrasing and technique.
I got to know Vi when I used to take my brother to Poppy Lane for private lessons, before he went on to the RAM and studied under the great John Fletcher, (who I also got to know well!). I actually played horn in Arthur’s concert band at one of the very first performances. Even after almost 47 of playing I can often Arthur’s words helping me get the music out of a piece!
Long may you continue!

Great Website, Will keep looking in from time to time. Merry Christmas to you all from Les Cleveland Concert Band Remember me to Janice and Batler.

Got the link via the North East Concert Band, my mate Janice. Nice website and very informative. I will see if I can put a link up for you onto our website here at Cleveland Concert Band. www.clevelandconcertband.co.uk I just may call in one day if I get to your part of the world.
Cheers

Keith Morley
M.D.
Cleveland Concert Band

Just a note to say hello & I think your new website is great. A good friend of mine and an ex member of the North East Concert Band is with you now. Hello Dawn, still miss you loads!

Would you please add our site to your links section and I will do the same on our site.
http://northeastconcertband.website.orange.co.uk/

Regards

Janice