Ian Knapton our previous MD grew up as part of a musical, brass banding family and his enthusiasm for playing in bands started when he began playing the horn with the Corsham Band in Wiltshire at the young age of 5 years old. When he was 14 he took up the solo trombone seat with the band, holding the position for four years until he moved to Barnsley in South Yorkshire to study for his degree in Band Studies under the leadership of David Hirst .
Ian decided to stay in Yorkshire and started his conducting career in November 2000 with Emley Band, taking them back to contesting after four years of absence. He followed this by becoming the resident conductor at Harworth Band under their professional conductor John Davis where he enjoyed 2 memorable years.
In November 2003 Ian joined Ireland Colliery Chesterfield as their Musical Director. At this point the band were close to
folding with only 10 players around the stand. Under his direction the band rebuilt itself and competed in March 2004 at the Midlands area with 28 players. Since then it successfully competed at
the Area contest every year, achieving better results year on year.
In 2011 Ian led Ireland to the National Finals for the first time in over 20 years, a feat that was repeated in each of the following years to 2014. Ireland Colliery, under Ian's direction, was promoted for 4 consecutive years from the 4th Section up to the 1st Section in 2015.
Ian is a believer that every person should have the chance to shine and this was the key to 12 years of success with Ireland. He developed players of all abilities to achieve success and with the help of a few other people created a great organisation with a firm base to carry on financially and securely. Ian was one of the key people in developing the Ireland Colliery name, putting on successful theme nights and developing key relationships with a brewery to hold the bands own annual contest and beer festival which ran for 10 successful years.
After 12 years of great success with Ireland, Ian felt it was time to move on and accepted the role of Musical Director with the Lindley band in Yorkshire in November 2015. Ian lead the band to its highest contest result at the area for 20 years with a 3rd place finish in the 1st section in 2016, which secured safety in the section.
But after a year with the band Ian moved on and accepted the role of Musical Director with Kippax band in November 2016, who are one of the longest running brass bands in the world founded in 1814. In his period with the band he lead them to 5 contests and achieved 5 awards along with some great concerts. Sadly due to relocation and family commitments Ian had to resign from the band in June 2018.
Throughout Ian’s 37 years of playing he has played as a guest and a member with a number of bands including the likes of Rothwell, and Carlton Main
Christmas Eve at Tescos in 2016. Playing started at 10am and finished at
2pm
Presentation by MD David Dernley to Michael Tindall for 50years devotion to the Band presented at the 50years reformation
Celebration and Christmas Concert at Market Rasen. Through the years he has been Secretary, Acting Chairman, Band Sergeant and a trustee and is currently Contest Secretary
Probably the highlight of the year playing in Lincoln Cathedral at The Lincolnshire Co-op Carol Concert on Dec 7th 2016
Funeral was held at Grimsby Crematorium on Nov 23rd 2016 of one of our former Bandsman, Horn player and MD Noel Barry Mathews aged 83years. He conducted the band in the Midlands Regional Contest in 2005 where we was positioned 3rd in the 4th Section with the Test Piece Divertimento.
So, we had a great summer of concerts, kicking off with the beautiful wedding of the new Mr & Mrs Naylor followed by our spring concert in Market Rasen, fetes, a trip to the golf club and numerous other engagements. We recruited some rather useful players during the summer in Cornet player Kay Waller, who came to boost the ranks on the front row, and Trombonist Graeme Smith, who has slotted nicely into the 2nd Trombone role. Both are a great asset to the band.
But as our summer season came to an end we had to say a sad farewell to our principle cornet player, Smain Mokrane. He has left us for the big scary world of university and we wish him all the best with the course and his future (don’t forget us)! So with that has come some movement within the band and we are looking for a cornet player to take over from Smain as principle. If you are interested, or know anybody who might be, please contact us in strictest confident either by phone, e-mail (katewaite@hormail.com), on Facebook or Twitter.
After Smain left us we took on the Bolsover Festival of Brass Entertainment Contest and came in a solid 4th place. It is certainly starting to look and feel as though we are finding our feet in the 3rd section and enjoying the challenges it brings. We will not be competing at Butlins in January but that will give us a little more time to work on the Regional Area test piece and see if we can improve on last years 4th place.
October was a quiet month as we worked on the program for remembrance and our annual Proms to Poppies concert went down a storm on Saturday 08 November. The Parade on Sunday 09 November was brilliant and we thank the people of Market Rasen for joining us in a fantastic celebration of 100 years since the start of WW1. We have 1 more job in November, the Mayors Parade on Sunday 23, and then it’s into the Christmas Season with regular appearances in Rasen throughout December along with our traditional trip to Caistor on Wednesday 17 December and a special journey over to Boston on Wednesday 10 December to take part in the Co-op Carol Service in Boston Stump.
So we hope to see you all over the Christmas period, but if we don’t, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
12th July 2015 was the day the band went and played at the Shirebrook Open Entertainment Contest. There were a total of 10 bands performing and we came 6th. We also picked up the Trophy for best 3rd/4th section programme.
Spring 2014
Happy New Year one and all! Our apologies for the delay in updatning our news feed. It has been a very busy but brilliant start to the year so far.
In January we went to the Butlins Mineworkers Contest in Skegness, our 1st outing as a 3rd section band. We worked hard but on the day the results did not go our way with us being placed 15th out of 18. We were very happy that we had not finished last and were pleased with the performance had given, knowing where improvements were needed.
Straight out of Butlins and we started work on the Regional Areas test piece promising our MD, Dave, that we would work harder. And harder work we did. Now that we have been promoted it is noticable in the complexity of the music we have to learn for contests. 7 long weeks of rehearsing and it was time to go to Bedworth.
How strange it was travelling to the area contest on a Saturday, but it seemed to pay off. With an early 2nd half draw and following the winners on stage, we played one of our better perfomances and managed to wow the adjudicators into awarding us 4th place. This is the highest placing the band has earned in long long time.
So contest season is over for now and we go into concert season with a happy band. Our 1st concert of the yeah is this Saturday, 12th April, for the wedding of 2 of our musicians, Rachel Ward (soprano) and Stephen Naylor (Baritone). We are honoured to be a part of their special day and we wish them all the happiness for their futures together.
Winter 2013
Our Christmas Season is almost over with just some carolling to do at Tesco on Christmas Eve. The Proms and Remembrance concerts through November were very successful and thoroughly enjoyed by the band and the audience alike. So we moved into December starting with a Memorial Service at St. James’ Church, Louth and then onto the more seasonal gigs in Nettleham on 14th December, Caistor on 18th December and Market Rasen on 21st December, all the while, still working on our Butlins contest piece which we be attending for the 1st time in the 3rd section on 18th January 2014.
During the season we have some additions to the band, Verity Sheppard who has joined us on the cornet line, returning to music after a small 20 year break, Gareth Steenken also on the cornet line up, who has joined us from Barton Town Band and Joe Appelwhite, Percussionist, who has joined us from Foss Dyke Band . Thank you for your help this season and welcome to the band.
Thank you to all of you, player, audience, family, friends, for your continued support. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year and we will see you all again in 2014!
Autumn 2013
What a fantastic end to the Summer. The band have been to Cheltenham for the National Finals and we came 6th. A brilliant result for us and we are all very pleased. Many thanks to every single member of the band for their hard work and commitment. A special thank to our MD Dave Dernley for his hard work and enthusiasm and congratulations on coming 6th in the first contest conducting.
Now that the summer is over we head into Autumn with a couple of concerts on the horizon including our Proms to Poppies concerts in November. We will still be working hard on our test pieces though, with the Butlins Mineworkers Contest in January and the Regional Qualifying in March.
Keep your eyes open for updates on our Autumn and Winter events.
Summer 2013
Well the Spring is over and we’re well into the swing of a season we can recognise, even in the UK, as summer! Our new MD, Dave, has settled in nicely and we are making good progress on the test piece for the National Final in September.
The past 2 months have seen is out and about playing mainly for private functions; a wedding in Holton-le-Moor and, more recently, an Oompah evening in Nettleham. We have also supported Newton-by-Toft Church Fete.
At the beginning of July we held our own summer fete to raise money for the band to help fund the National Finals, down in Cheltenham. It was a beautiful sunny day and we thank everyone who came down for the support, especially John & Joan Wright from RESDEV. On a personal note our Chairperson would also like to say a huge thank you to her mother, Diane Maltby, for her 3 days worth of cake baking.
With the summer upon us, we now have the challenges which all bands face, holiday season, and we take this time to work with the individual sections; we rarely stop. Come rain or shine you can find us on Wednesday and Sunday evenings at our band room.
Lastly, for now, Our Chairperson would just like to say a massive thank you to the committee (and your families) for the hard work you’ve all put in for the band and for me. It really is paying off dividends. As Springs kicks in to full flow, the band have been given some exciting news; we have been promoted to the 3rd section with effect from 01 January 2014. This is a fantastic reward following several years of work and progress in the 4th section and we are looking forward to the challenge.
To join us in this endeavour is new musical director David Dernley (profile available on About Us), a percussionist who has had connections with the band for several years. He starts working with us on a permanent basis from Wednesday 15th May. We look forward to working with Dave and hope he enjoys the experience as much as we do.
Market Rasen Festival Hall 27th April 2013
Another brilliant concert last night. Thanks to all who came to see us especially special guests John & Joan from RESDEV. Soloists played stunningly again and a great time had by all.
Caistor Town Hall 20 April 2013
So the concert season has begun and what better way to start with the celebrations for St. Georges Day at Caistor Town Hall. We are always made to feel welcome when we go to Caistor and this time was no different. The Caistor Lions did a sterling job, as usual, at hosting, organising and cooking. (The bangers and mash was delicious!) Although the music was not all strictly of English origin, it was still thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Following the departure of MD Alan Needham, Peter Wood kindly stepped up to take the band on a temporary basis and the band played very well on limited rehearsals. Peter decided that he would show off the young talent in the band with Darcie Jago (Cornet) and Samuel Ehret’Pickett (Baritone) both playing their solos (Solitaire and I Don’t Know How To Love Him respectively) brilliantly. Nicola Hall (Solo Horn) also wowed the audience with her rendition of He Aint Heavy, He’s My Brother and Phil Pearson (Euphonium) brought a bit of Italy to us all with O Sole Mio.
Congratulations to the Caistor Ladies Choir who entertained us in the second half with their programme. They have only been formed since October 2012 and it is brilliant to see the progress made and we look forward to teaming up with them again in the future.
There is no other way to end a St. Georges Day concert than with everybody singing and waving flags to Jerusalem, Pomp and Circumstance (Land of Hope & Glory) and You’ll Never Walk Alone. A brilliant time has been had by all but don’t worry if you missed out. We’re doing it all over again this Saturday 27 April at Market Rasen Festival Hall, 7.30pm.
Midlands 4th section Regionals 2013, Sunday 10th March
The band qualified for the National Finals in September at Cheltenham by coming 2nd out of 17 bands entered in the 4th Section Midlands Regionals held at Nicholas Chamblaine College, Bedworth.
BOLSOVER FESTIVAL OF BRASS 4TH SECTION CHAMPIONS
Heritage High School Sports Hall, Clowne, October 7th 2012
Music played were The Home of Legends, My love is Like a Red Red Rose, The Old Rugged Cross, Macarthur Park, New Colonial March
Hitting the High Notes in Market Rasen
Confidence is at an all time high for the Market Rasen (Resdev) Band as they celebrated their much deserved and long awaited success as winners of the Graham Thomas Memorial Trophy at the Bolsover Brass Band Entertainment Contest 2012. The event took place in Bolsover on the 7th October and much to the delight of the band members and their main sponsors, Resdev Limited, they were victorious in the efforts with this most prestigious award.
The band was reformed shortly after the Second World War and can still boast one original member from this time in the guise of their President, octogenarian Nick Hall. Other members also have long time connections serving with the Market Rasen (Resdev) Band which has a strong community ethos with quite a number of family connected members from parents with their children now involved, to brothers and sisters from the area around Market Rasen.
The band’s sense of community recently attracted the sponsorship of the leading resin flooring manufacturer Resdev, who are based in Elland in West Yorkshire. The company has well established connections with the food preparation industry within Lincolnshire and their Chairman, Yorkshireman John Wright, has made the county his home. Resdev has afforded sponsorship to a number of organisations and community sports events during it’s more than 30 years in business so the decision to put something back into Lincolnshire by supporting the band came easily.
Resdev’s generous support was instrumental in providing financial stability for the band so that they could, not only continue to be in existence, but also do what they do best and perform at competitions and local community events. With their spirits and their heads lifted high, the Market Rasen (Resdev) Band are looking forward to a packed programme over the coming months, not least at the Proms to Poppies concerts being held in the Nettleham Village Hall and the Festival Hall in Market Rasen in the coming weeks as well as the Remembrance Parade in Market Rasen on the 11th November 2012. The band has a busy schedule arranged for over the Christmas period and already have a number of engagements planned for the New Year.
BOLSOVER FESTIVAL OF BRASS 4TH SECTION CHAMPIONS
Heritage High School Sports Hall, Clowne, October 7th 2012
BAND TAKES 4TH PRIZE AT BUTLINS SKEGNESS JANUARY 2012
Principle cornet player Smain Mokrane with Steve Walker
THIRD PLACE AT THE 2011 LEICESTERSHIRE OPEN .
12 Bands adjudicated by Mike Kilroy entered the event on Sunday 27th November at Burleigh Theatre Loughborough. The band conducted by Alan Needham played fifth with the Test Piece 'The Seasons' by Philip Wilby.
2ND PRIZE WON AT BUTLINS SKEGNESS JANUARY 2011
LEICESTERSHIRE OPEN BRASS BAND CONTEST 2010
NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
HARROGATE CONFERENCE CENTRE 26th SEPTEMBER 2010
Preparations were under way for our first ever appearance at the National Brass Band Championships
Since our qualification in the Spring we welcome to our ranks Brian Wilson on Euphonium, Howard Wright-Green on Cornet both from Fossdyke, and Mike Mackinder on Trombone from Hade Hedge, musicians of the highest order and experience.
A full Band, with full rehearsals, augurs well for a respectable performance on a very demanding yet enjoyable Test Piece come the 26th September.
Many many thanks to all of our supporters and sponsors who have worked tirelessly and donated so much to enable the purchase of new stage uniforms for the event. It really is appreciated.
An "OPEN EVENING" took place on Sunday 19th September at the De Aston School Market Rasen 7pm when, resplendent in our new attire, we gave our one and only public performance of the set Test Piece prior to the finals in Harrogate. This followed by a concert to thank everybody for their contributions. TOTALLY FREE !! EVERYBODY WELCOME!!
2010 Bedworth Midlands Regional's
On Sunday 14th March
we played at the Midlands Regional's in Bedworth. We came 2nd out of 24 bands and we are now through to the National Finals in Harrogate taking place on the 25th and 26th September 2010. Above left is the cup we won and the picture next to it is us playing at Bedworth.