Latest News
- Welcome Oliver!!
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Date Posted: Sat, 1 Aug 2026

Alder Valley are thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Musical Director Oliver Hallstead-Brooks. Oliver, whose full CV can now be found here will start working with the band in September and the players are looking forward to exciting times ahead. Oliver’s first formal engagement is scheduled to be our traditional Christmas concert at Normandy Village Hall at 3pm on Saturday 5 December - put it in your diary now!
- Moving On!
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Date Posted: Tue, 28 Jul 2026

Alder Valley Brass are sad to announce the departure at the end of July
of our musical director David Hamilton.
David joined us in late summer 2025 having recently moved to the area.
He brought with him his musicality, enthusiasm, patience and humour.
The reaction from the band and from audiences at our various concerts
under his baton has been uniformly positive.
A further relocation is about to see him move to another part of the
country and we will all miss him.
A big thank you and with best wishes David from your friends at Alder
Valley Brass.
- Cinema Spectacular!!!
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Date Posted: Mon, 18 May 2026

Alder Valley Brass held their Summer Concert, Cinema Spectacular, at Normandy Village Hall on 16.05.2026. There were some fantastic raffle prizes and delicious cakes on offer too, all helping to raise funds for the band.
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Our fabulous Principal Cornet, Steve Burgess.

Trombone Trio, 'I Will Follow Him' in full-flow.
- Annual AGM 2026 Awards
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Date Posted: Tue, 21 Apr 2026

Alder Valley Brass recently held their AGM and Presentation evening. This year the awards went to:
Musician of the Year - awarded by the Musical Director, David Hamilton, was presented to Laura James by Rob Greene in David's absence on Army duties.
The Long Service Award was awarded to Laura James for 25 continuous years service.

The George Prior Memorial Cup for the Bandmember of the Year was voted for by secret ballot of the band members and awarded to Claire Wade.

- Sir Brian May
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Date Posted: Sun, 1 Feb 2026

Sir Brian May CBE
Alder Valley Brass are thrilled to announce that Surrey neighbour Sir Brian May CBE, lead guitarist with the world-renowned rock band Queen, has agreed to become the band’s new Honorary President. Sir Brian said it was ‘a pleasant surprise’ and that he was ‘very honoured’ to be asked to fill a position previously held over the years by Ronnie Barker and. later, Ronnie Corbett. The band have a musical link to the Two Ronnies as they played (under their former name The Aldershot Brass Ensemble) on two of their famous TV shows. The band now look forward to the chance to play arrangements of Queen music especially for Sir Brian including Bohemian Rhapsody, Don’t Stop Me Now and, particularly, the Brian May-composed Fat Bottomed Girls.
- Remembrance Sunday Parade
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Date Posted: Mon, 19 Jan 2026

The parade and Band assembled in Castle Street and processed to the War memorial in Gostrey Meadow. Last Post and Reveille were played by Mr Steve Burgess, Principal Cornet player for Alder Valley Brass. Mr Roy Hancock, chairman of Alder Valley Brass laid the wreath on their behalf.


