CHATHAM, ONTARIO IS BESIEGED BY JUBILEE BRASS.

…In a good way, of course, bringing good music, true spirituality and a wee bit of the Christmas spirit.
 

The City of Chatham, Ontario has a population of 108,177 souls, one of whom is the band’s first horn player, Ian Tilley.
The municipality of Chatham-Kent has two nicknames; The Maple City and the Classic car capital of Canada.
The municipality is mainly rural and agricultural, with industry in the larger urban areas.

Named after Chatham, Kent, England the city began as a naval dockyard in the 1790s as it straddles the Thames River.
The downtown area of Chatham is rife with ghost stories, both past and present fostering paranormal activity. In 2004 a local author/historian Sheila Gibbs wrote a book titled “The Ghosts of Chatham-Kent” which quickly became a best seller among the locals.

On Sunday, November 23rd Chatham momentarily changed its reputation from ‘Ghost town’ to ‘Guest town’ as the local Salvation Army, Captains Andrew and Stephanie Watkinson, hosted Jubilee Brass which was present to conduct morning worship and to bring a little taste of Christmas in the afternoon program.
According to Band Secretary Bert Wormington this week-end concluded the busiest week in the history of the Band.
The leader and speaker for the morning was the Band’s Executive officer Major Wilson Noble who chose as his topic “The Journey of maturity” based on James 1:1-12. The good Major always gives a well sourced scripture based message which never fails to challenge the hearers.
The band provided a prelude before the service which included the chorus arrangement “As the Deer” and the vocal number “In me”.

The band’s offerings during the service included a vocal solo by trombonist Dick Goldsmith, piano styling by Barb Kitney and the selection,” Channels of Blessing”. Barb was so effective that they passed the collection plate to show their appreciation.

Bandsman Gary Titcombe, our resident chorus leader/testimony encourager again got the congregation in the ‘mood’ with his dynamic leadership of some good ‘old’ Army choruses.

Following a spectacular roast beef dinner hosted by the corps, the band got the afternoon program off to a rousing start with the ever popular march “Crown of Conquest” followed by the processional “Be glorified” and the vocal selection “Redeemed”.
Bagpipe soloist Jack Bernard concluded the first section with “Highland Cathedral”.

The band then turned to the Christmas music supporting a Christmas sing-a-long.
The marches “Christmas praise” and “Christmas joy” comprised part of the package along with the spiritual “Sweet little Jesus boy”.

Bandsman Tom Quick rendered the every popular trombone solo,” O holy night”. The band also presented the medley, “A Christmas festival”.

The bandsmen returned to their various homes across southwestern Ontario sure that at least some of the ghosts had been chased from town.