Porthaethwy Menai Bridge Band is still celebrating after a successful weekend in Llandudno at the Welsh Regional Championships, although their success in gaining qualification to the National Final Finals in Cheltenham was tinged with sadness.

Missing

There was one player missing from the stage on the day and the band has decided to dedicate their qualification success to him.

Dr Gwynfor Pierce Jones died suddenly last Christmas Eve – just two after completing yet another enjoyable stint of carolling with the band, so although he was missing from the post contest celebrations he was certainly in the minds of all the players.

Right

Band Chairman, Brian Mottershead told 4BR: "Gwynfor was a dedicated and knowledgeable bandsman who has been sadly missed by us all, so it seemed only right that we should be thinking about him as we took to the stage and after the result.

He would have been so pleased that the player’s efforts brought a great success."

He would have been so pleased that the player’s efforts brought a great successBand Chairman, Brian Mottershead

Busy year

The band has a busy year ahead as they celebrate their 120th anniversary. In addition to preparations for the finals in September, they are planning a number of projects to celebrate 120 years of community music making.

A new website is due for launch in the Autumn, rehearsals for a special anniversary concert are under way and they are also busy raising sponsorship to fund a CD recording.