A Musical Welcome for Gosport’s New Mayor
Gosport Solent Brass was honoured to perform at the annual Mayor Making ceremony held at Gosport Town Hall on 14 May 2025, marking a significant civic occasion with a musical touch of tradition and celebration.
The band provided a rousing and dignified musical backdrop as councillors, guests, and members of the public gathered to witness the formal appointment of the new Mayor of Gosport. Their performance helped set a fitting tone for the proceedings, adding warmth, pageantry, and a strong community spirit to the day.
The programme of music was carefully selected to reflect the importance of the event while showcasing the band’s versatility and professionalism. Gosport Solent Brass was proud to support such a key moment in the town’s civic calendar.
Karen Austin, Chair of Gosport Solent Brass Committee, commented on the event:
"It’s always a privilege for the band to be part of these historic and community-focused occasions. We’re proud to represent Gosport and to help bring people together through music."
The band would like to thank the Mayor’s office and Gosport Borough Council for the invitation and warm welcome. It was a pleasure to be part of such a memorable day, and the band looks forward to continuing its support of civic events throughout the year.
A Spellbinding Evening of Magic & Fantasy
26 April 2025
Gosport Solent Brass cast a musical spell over a packed audience at Holy Trinity Church, Gosport, with a spectacular Spring Concert themed Magic and Fantasy. The evening was a celebration of imagination and sound, filled with moments that delighted, surprised, and inspired.
From the very first note, the band swept the audience away on a journey through mystical realms, thanks to the inspired leadership of Musical Director Phillip Littlemore. His imaginative programme and expertly crafted arrangements transformed the church into a stage of wonder, showcasing the band’s versatility and flair.
Special recognition was given to guest dep player Lauren Chinn on flugelhorn, whose stunning solo was a standout moment of the night and drew enthusiastic applause.
Behind the scenes, the concert was brought to life with the help of the dedicated front-of-house team, whose warm welcome and seamless organisation ensured a memorable experience for all in attendance.
Most importantly, Gosport Solent Brass extends its heartfelt thanks to the audience. The band knows that without the continued support of the local community, evenings like this simply wouldn’t be possible. The energy and appreciation from the crowd made the concert truly unforgettable.
That's Christmas 2024 All Wrapped Up!
Christmas Season for the Band has come to a close, and what a busy one it was!
Two main concerts, Christmas lights switch on, 'Deck the Hulls' on HMS Warrior, carolling services and busking for the Christmas shoppers at Asda and Gunwharf Quay.
It has been a truly magical and successful year for the Band and we look forward to doing it all again in 2025. Thank you to everyone who came to our concerts and to everyone who donated to our collection tubes.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at GSB.
If you are planning a Christmas Event for 2025, and would be interested in hiring the Band for a showcase of all the festive tunes and carols, please get in touch via our 'Contact Us' section.
Trombonist Rich Sharp takes on a Weightlifting Challenge
Rich has set himself a target of lifting 260,000Ib of weight in the gym over 26 days as part of the #26forSoph.
Sophie Ward joined the Royal Marines Service in 2020 and served as a flute and saxophone player in the Collingwood Band. Last year concerns were raised about her health and after lengthy investigations Sophie was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, she is only 26. She has been resilient and defiant of her diagnosis but deterioration is alarming.
Rich, alongside other members of the RMBS, are undertaking individual or group challenges with money raised going to the Royal Marines Charity (RMA), Dorothy House Hospice Care and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Rich's fundraising page can be found here. Good luck Rich!
GOSPORT
HEADED TO THE
'WILD, WILD WEST!'
8 June 2024
Hitting the frontier town of Gosport on Saturday night, the Band presented a concert of music from The Wild West, transporting the audience to the era of cowboys, outlaws and wide-open plains and it went down a storm!
Huge hits from classic Western films, such as The Magnificent Seven, The Big Country and How The West Was Won, and pieces from South of the border, including Malaguena, Mexican Hat Dance and Children of Sanchez, rang out over the crowd, with arrangements from Sheriff Phillip Littlemore and stand-up solos from Tracey Bennett (Principal Cornet), Bekki Collis (Flugel horn) and Les Yarrow (Euphonium).
The penultimate number from the band, The Lone Ranger, had the band smokin' at their fingertips as they sped rapidly through the notes to produce a finale which gained them a standing ovation with the audience.
The theme from Rawhide was delivered by the band as their Encore, and even had the wonderful front of house crew dancing their boots off in the foyer.
This was an unforgettable rootin’, tootin’ Wild West Show by Gosport Solent Brass!
'LAMP LIGHTS OF PEACE' FOR D DAY 80
6 June 2024
Gosport Solent Brass took part in the town’s D Day 80 beacon lighting event last Thursday, 6th June.
Marking the 80th anniversary of Allied Forces mounting the largest amphibious invasion the world has ever seen in 1944. Around 4,000 ships and landing craft set down over 130,000 troops on five Normandy beaches, in action that would bring about the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation. Stokes Bay and Hardway were chosen as embarkation points for tanks and support vehicles destined for Normandy.
Gosport, along with many other towns and cities across the country, took part in the national beacon lighting at 9.15pm, in celebration of the 'light of peace' that came out of the darkness of the war. The beacon was sited on the slipway opposite Stokes Bay Sailing Club. The Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Richard Earle, lit the beacon (at the second attempt) as the National Tribute was read by Mrs Arabella Birdwood DL, representing the Lord-Lieutenant.
The band preceded the beacon lighting with a 45-minute programme of music with an obvious 1940s theme which included Colonel Bogey March, A Vera Lynn Medley (White Cliffs of Dover, Bless ‘em All and We’ll Meet Again), As Time Goes By, Soldiers in the Park and The Dambusters.
'TRIPTYCH' IN TORQUAY
9 March 2024
On Saturday 9th March the band headed to Torquay to take part in the annual West of England brass band contest, playing Philip Sparke’s “Triptych” in the 2nd Section, against 14 other talented bands from across the South West.
Drawn lucky number 7 the band produced a confident, well rounded account of the piece which was brought to life with an excellent reading from MD Philip Littlemore. The band really enjoyed getting to grips with this piece and it clearly showed in the end result, with the adjudicators in agreement and awarding the band with 3rd place.
The band will now once again be heading to Cheltenham in September after securing another invitation to the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain lower section finals and can not wait to find out what the test piece will be. Another achievement will see Gosport Solent Brass promoted to the 1st section in January for the very first time since it was formed in 2011.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
12 November 2023
The Band had the privilege of playing for the Gosport Civic Remembrance Service which took place outside the Gosport War Memorial Hospital.
Our very own solo horn player Mark Rooke had the honour of playing the Last Post and Reveille.
'We Will Remember Them'
DISCO INFERNO - OH, WHAT A NIGHT!
7 October 2023
What a fantastic night! Our Autumn concert of 60’s and 70’s classics was a smash hit with the local Gosport community, and the band certainly got into the groove!
Donning their party gladrags the band entertained the crowd with some smash hits from the 60’s and 70’s including tracks from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, 60’s Eurovision medley, and many more. The soloists were fantastic too, four of our principal seat players stood up to take the floor throughout the programme, this included our solo cornet -Tracey, flugelhorn -Bekki, solo horn -Mark and solo euphonium, Les.
The night was a great success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
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