Poulton-le-Fylde will be heading to the first contests of the season at full strength thanks to recent additions to the ranks.

With Brass at the Guild Hall and North West Regional contests on the horizon, they welcome a number of new faces.

New faces

Adam Jones and Anna Long from the Band of the King's Division join on assistant principal cornet and solo horn, whilst thanks to renewed links with local schools talented youngsters Henry Thompson, Becky Carmichael, Arthur Elletson and Becky Slater come in on solo baritone, second and third cornet and kit percussion respectively.

Also returning to the ranks are former members Dan Moore, Andy Ellis and Toby Campbell on solo euphonium, bass trombone and Eb tuba.

Opera signing

Meanwhile, after helping the band at last year's Bolsover Entertainment Concert with an innovative programme set, their narrator and opera singer David Twizell discovered a love for brass bands and has since joined the percussion team.

Fantastic

MD Dave Collins told 4BR: "It fantastic rehearsing a full band of 28 players who will all be on the contest stage together — something which is difficult for non-Championship section bands.

The players have a real energy and are enjoying making great music and we hope to put on our best show in the coming few weeks."

The players have a real energy and are enjoying making great music and we hope to put on our best show in the coming few weeksMD, Dave Collins

Thanks

The band would like to record its thanks to Dan Crossen who joined the band on solo horn after an eight year spell away from banding.

Unfortunately, due to heavy work and family commitments, Dan has had to take a step back from the band for the forthcoming contest season.