LAUNCESTON Town Band held its annual awards evening at Eagle House Hotel on Saturday.

Mayor Cllr Dave Gordon, in proposing the toast to the band, thanked its members for their playing in and around Launceston, including recent carolling, the Mayor's Parade, Remembrance Sunday and Launceston Carnival. He hoped the close association between the band and the town would continue.

Band president John Ware, responding, said 2013 had been a difficult year for the band. Following the resignation of its musical director at the end of 2012 and the loss of several players, the band had appointed a new professional MD in January. Howeve,r in April he had taken a temporary job in Oman and when he returned at the end of June, announced that he was taking a permanent position there in September.

The band had worked hard to keep going until the appointment of a new MD, Jeremy Taylor, at the beginning of October. Jeremy had taken the band to the South West contest in November where it had exceeded all expectations by coming second in its section.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.