Abbey Brass are delighted to announce that they walked away with first place for the unregistered section of the Oxfordshire & District Brass Band Association’s Entertainment Contest last Sunday. They won the same section in the winter contest, too!

Thanks to Rosemary for the news and Oxfordshire & District Brass Band Association for the picture.

The old Compton Cinema organ, which has been resting in the Guildhall for many years, completed its journey to a new home in Sheffield last Wednesday.

It was last played in Jan 2009 . So, the Abingdon Organ Trust, who owned the organ, took the decision to transfer ownership of the organ to a trust who specialise in the restoration and celebration of cinema organs.

The Penistone Cinema Organ Trust are the new owners of the organ and are well into their programme of restoration of the pipework. The men who collected the organ console were visibly excited about reuniting the console with the pipework and have grand plans.

Thanks to Iain for the Report and Pictures.

The Abingdon Town Band had the honour of being invited back to Windsor Castle to perform on the Jubilee Garden Bandstand within the precincts of the Castle.

The Musical Director of the Band, Steve Rich, said “The Band were excited and honoured to be invited back to Windsor in the Diamond Jubilee year of HM The Queen and of course during the London 2012 Olympics.”

This was the Band’s third performance at the Castle after being invited to play there in 2010 when the Abingdon Town Band had the distinction of being the first non-military band ever to play in Windsor Castle

The Band has a very busy year of engagements this year including the MG celebrations at Blenheim Palace and the Royal County of Berkshire Agricultural Show at Newbury both in September.