There was joy for Renfrew Burgh Band recently after it triumphed in a major competition.
The band came out on top at the 2025 Borders Entertainment Contest in Jedburgh on November 1st, beating off competition from a strong field of 15 bands.
Conducted by musical director Mark Good, Renfrew secured a considerable haul of trophies, including first place overall, best Third Section band, best instrumentalist and best principal cornet – both of which were awarded to RBB’s Ash Paton.
The triumph marked the first overall win at the competition for Renfrew Burgh Band in its history and saw it overcome several higher-ranked bands in the process. The Borders win capped off a remarkable contesting year, which included a victory at the Scottish Championships in March and a top-six finish at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in September.
Reflecting on the weekend’s result, musical director Mark Good said: “I’m over the moon for members of Renfrew Burgh Band, who threw themselves into the programme and performance wholeheartedly. They have worked extremely hard in 2025 and deserve their contesting success, but we know we can’t take anything for granted, and will continue to press on with gusto ahead of promotion to the Second Section in 2026.”
Renfrew Burgh Band opened its winning programme with the New Orleans jazz funeral-inspired Just a Closer Walk With Thee. Principal cornet and principal euphonium players Ash Paton and Allan McGranaghan then took centre stage in Ben Hollings’ reflective Novella, before a change of pace in an arrangement of California Dreamin’. Renfrew brought down the curtain on its programme with music from James Horner’s score to The Mask of Zorro.
Chairperson Myra Mack said: “We’re delighted to have enjoyed a successful season of band contesting, and the result at the Borders Entertainment Contest was a tremendous achievement for everyone involved. The Burgh Band will continue to represent Renfrew with pride wherever we go, and we look forward to performing for local audiences in the weeks and months to come.”
A busy schedule continues for Renfrew Burgh Band with a performance at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. Other engagements include the switching on of Renfrew’s Christmas lights and a Christmas concert in Neilston Parish Church on Sunday, December 14th at 3pm, as well as its pensioners’ lunch and carol playing in the community.
More information about Renfrew Burgh Band is available at www.renfrewburghband.co.uk.
Photo:
Photo: Serious note: Shona Jones, flugelhorn; Mark Good, musical director; Catriona Black, solo horn, in costume.
Photo: RBB member Ian Mercer collects one of the trophies from adjudicator, Paul Drury.
Photo: Renfrew Burgh Band was victorious at the Borders Entertainment Contest