This festive season has been a particularly poignant one for the band as it marks the departure from conducting duties of Val Hope. Val announced her intention to stop being at the front of the band a while ago, with the desire to refocus on playing in the band from January 2018.
When Val took over the baton in September 2011, we had decided to stop contesting, a number of seats were empty and Grange Moor Brass Band was in a tricky position. It’s thanks to her efforts that we are in the position we are now – with well-attended rehearsals of a nearly full band and playing regular concerts with varied programmes. Val has also been instrumental in setting up our training band system meaning that we have gone from having nearly no band at all to having a thriving brass band culture in Grange Moor!
Val’s effort through these years, building the band back up, has been wonderful and we can’t thank her enough for her time and energy. We know that she is really looking forward to enjoying playing again and we wish her all the best.
At her final concert in front of the band in the village recently, Val was presented with some gifts from the band and bassist Tim Grace said these kind words about her.
