Midlands Regional Championship Section contenders Derwent Brass has been given a boost to their 2017 Silver Jubilee anniversary celebrations and forthcoming Area challenge on 'Pageantry', by taking delivery of a trio of top-ranked cornets thanks to a famous film foundation and the world's top brass band.

The three Prestige cornets, which used to be played by Cory, the world's number 1 ranked band, were purchased through Band Supplies Ltd with help of a grant through the appropriately named Rank Foundation.

Pedigree

Band Manager Chris Leonard told 4BR: "To gain the support of the Rank Foundation was a huge boost to get our hands on these great cornets — ones that came with one heck of a pedigree.

One of our objectives is the continued development of all band assets, and buying the best cornets in the business is another milestone. Thanks must go to Kevin Stewart for all the hard work he put in to our grant application and to Band Supplies who ensured we were able to purchase the instruments when demand from them came from all around the banding world."

Pleased

The Rank Foundation is a charitable trust with a mission to improve the lives of people and their communities across the UK.

Their Grant Administration Manager Rosamond McNulty MSc told 4BR: "The Directors have certain ongoing commitments and these, combined with the fact that they are receiving an ever-increasing number of appeals mean that it is only possible to make grants in a relatively small number of cases.

We are therefore particularly pleased that we have been able to make this grant to Derwent Brass."

To gain the support of the Rank Foundation was a huge boost to get our hands on these great cornets — ones that came with one heck of a pedigreeBand Manager, Chris Leonard.

Delighted

Meanwhile, Band Supplies MD Ronnie Tennant added: "We were delighted that we could help a hard-working band get their hands on instruments with such superb provenance. Cory demands the best and these German built Besson Prestige cornets are certainly that.

Demand for them was huge, but Derwent was first in the queue."