Well, another Areas over and once again our treasurer will be sleeping soundly, safe in the knowledge that our 8th placing means he won't be funding a trip to the Royal Albert Hall this year. It's not the result any of us wanted, but Derek Bourgeois' Diversions for Brass Band was a fiendishly difficult piece. Our new-look cornet and horn sections were fantastic and we look forward now to doubling down on our attempt to get an inaugural hat-trick of ConsTest wins in April.
Part of the joy of the Areas is celebrating the work and achievements of our friends and colleagues in the Midlands brass band community. Congratulations to our friends at Langley and Staffordshire bands for their results as they join us back in the Championship section. Also to Ratby Band where our ex-principal cornet Josh played a blinder to help them get a deserved 4th place. Well done to GUS and Desford who will be representing the Midlands once again at the Albert Hall and hard luck to Derwent Brass who came third again - a band whose attitude to banding should be universally admired.
But the biggest congratulations should be reserved for the Midlands Area Committee and their amazing team who brought the contest back to its most recent spiritual home, Bedworth Civic Hall. Also the community team who run the hall and did an amazing job making all the bands feel welcome and relaxed (did they also organise the fabulous weather?!). And take a bow Barbara Dunscombe for your fabulous compering and organising a slow handclap from the stage to get the adjudicators out of their box for the results. Even the comments from the adjudicators Steve Mead and Chris King were great, really insightful and useful for bands considering their placements. We're looking forward to 2026 already!