Churchill Band celebrates

The flute players not only took the top title in the Second Grade Flute competition in the Championship of Ireland bands contest, in Market Place Theatre, Armagh, on Sunday, but their win also saw them lift the ‘Championship of the World for Flute Band’ title.

Scores of bands had turned out for the various competitions, and in the Second Grade for Flute the Churchills faced stiff competition from the Lord Londonderry’s Own CLB Flute and the Cahard Flute Band, but on the day were adjudged to be the winning band with a score of 92 points.

The adjudicator on Saturday was Sandy Hay and the band was conducted by Chris Wright, from Castlederg.

Congratulating the band, stalwart member and former vice-chairman, Jim Thompson, said: “It is a fantastic achievement for the Churchills. The band has 40 members between the drum section and flute players. To win a competition like this takes serious practice at least two nights a week to ensure you reach this standard.

“The band was playing with four learners on the flute and I want to particularly congratulate them on their first appearance on stage with the band and for the contribution they made to the success the Churchills enjoyed,” he said.