And another thing…
Commitment these days… John Barber tells a few tales of yesteryear and wonders whether modern banding commitment standards have slipped in certain quarters. Cartoon by Nezzy
Whilst the musical rewards can undoubtedly be plentiful, playing in a brass band also takes time, effort, costs money, allows you the opportunity to dress in outsized uniforms, be occasionally disappointed by contest results and, if you're unfortunate enough, to get stuck regularly in an unnecessarily extended concert with a male voice choir.
To submit to all of these challenges takes commitment - 'a willingness to give your time and energy to something that you believe in, a promise or firm decision to do something'. With the challenges of modern life, work commitments, family pressures and the airing of mid-week premiership matches on BT sport, there has been a small, but gradual acceptance that sometimes extenuating circumstances dictate that it simply isn't possible to be there 100% of the time.
Things haven't always been this way though; excuses of a family crisis or an impending redundancy would often fall on deaf ears 'back in the day.'
One such tale relates to the late Derek Jackson…
To read this entertaining feature in full, click the ‘read more’ icon below and find out how to subscribe to BBW Digital - just £30 worldwide.
.gif)
