FOREST of Dean Brass of Yorkley were declared brass band champions for the coming year at a contest held by Gloucestershire Brass Band Assoc­iation on Sunday (November 20).

Gillian Phelps, chair of the band, said: “Forest of Dean Brass stole the show. Under the baton of Chris Howley, who won the award for best conductor of the day, they had a resounding success playing Peter Graham’s Prisms Symphonic No 2 for Brass Band as their test piece and the march Bombardier by J T Powell.”

The band also took first place in the march, with the solo cornet, Craig Wintle, taking best instrumentalist in the section and of the day, together with best solo cornet of the day.

The new champions are in concert on December 11 at Lydney Town Hall and on December 13 at Cheltenham Ladies’ College.