Beat Winter Blues…Bring Back Brass Bands!

With the Beast from the East looming ever closer, maybe it’s time to warm ourselves up with memories of far warmer weather and vivid green parks.

The Friends committee are geared up to holding an event every month of the year and this years are almost in the bag.

Just a few are remaining bits and pieces to firm up on, minor details and final dates.

(Check out our our event calendar here https://radipoleparkandgardensfriends.wordpress.com/events-2018-2/)

In the past, one thing that many parks were renown for was music.

It’s where the public went to immerse themselves in the cheerful melodies of the local town band or toe tapping to the stirring tunes of visiting military musicians.

During the Victorian era, Weymouth could boast many a bandstand, Alexander Gardens, the Esplanade…

…out on the pier’s end.

Even the newly created Greenhill gardens had one to start with, which for one reason or another was soon moved!

By the time of the 20th century, these wonderfully ornate cast iron circular stages were no longer en vogue, so one by one they were done away with.

Sadly, even though there was brief mention of a bandstand being built in Radipole gardens when they were created in the 1930’s,  nothing actually appeared on the ground.

Undeterred though, the Friends thought it might be nice to bring back the brass band to their musical roots.

Music in the Park.

On a sultry summer’s day in July of 2017, Weymouth Concert Brass Band arrived in Radipole Gardens and set out their instruments.

Well before their performance was due to start, people began arriving with their chairs and rugs, making sure they secured a spot to settle down in the shade of the willows for an afternoons entertainment.

By the time the band struck up, the gardens were awash with music lovers and park goers.

The afternoon cream teas went down a storm.

O.K. So the 21st century bandstand might not have stood up to a Victorian connoiseur’s scrutiny…but the brass band certainly did!

So popular was the event, thoroughly enjoyed by one and all, including the band members themselves, that we are doing the same again this year.

Keep an eye on our Events List for the date in June, or sign up to be notified of that and any other up and coming events.

(Don’t worry, we won’t bombard your e-mail with junk.)

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Radipole Park and Gardens are being supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.