Bugle returns in a different dimension...

There may not be a contest this year but you will still be able to enjoy the music and atmosphere of the iconic Cornish event thanks to a special on-line broadcast.

It may be a virtual event this eyent but you can still enjoy the atmosphere

Friday, 05 June 2020

The famous West of England Bandsman's Festival — affectionately known around the world as the Bugle Contest will take place this year — although not as a competition but as an innovative 'virtual' march down broadcast.

Hundreds of visitors

The Cornish festival can trace its history back to 1912, and until now has only been interrupted by two World Wars.

It attracts hundreds of visitors each year with its iconic Royal Trophy having been won in the past by the likes of Black Dyke and Munn & Felton. The reigning champion is Camborne Town who claimed the trophy for a record 40th time last year.

The 96th event was due to have taken place in June but had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic

Virtual March Down

However, with the help of the Cornwall Channel the contest organisers are putting together a 'Virtual March Down' event which will be broadcast live at 10.00am on Saturday 20th June using footage from the past three years of bands marching through the village on their way to the contest field.

There will also be contributions from personalities such as Philip Harper and Ian Porthouse and the WEBF Committee are hoping viewers can at least imagine that they are watching from their usual position on the route on a sunny morning.

However, with the help of the Cornwall Channel the contest organisers are putting together a 'Virtual March Down' event which will be broadcast live at 10.00am on Saturday 20th June4BR

Spirit

Secretary Ian Powell told 4BR: "While we are desperately disappointed not to be holding our 96th contest this year we are hoping that players and spectators will engage with this broadcast and that in some small way it might help to keep the spirit of our Festival in people's thoughts and minds at this difficult time."

Time and place

Ina dded: "We are extremely grateful to Shane Solomon and our friends at the Cornwall Channel for their help in putting the whole thing together and we're very excited to reveal the finished article that will be broadcast live on Facebook at 10.00am on what would have been contest day Saturday 20th June".

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