Watership Brass celebrate life of Ron Howell with new music.

Watership Brass, The Newbury Town Band, in Berkshire have been celebrating the life of former player Ron Howell with a new composition.

The 3 movement suite for Brass Band called “On Acorn Ridge” was written by the band’s MD Mark Picken. The music contains several musical references to Ron’s life especially his time as a serving Royal Marine. The central slow movement is based on the song Sarie Marais, more commonly heard as the regimental march of the Royal Marine Commandos.

“Ron was the band’s longest serving member, a talented trombone player and had served for many years on the band management team. Writing a new piece for Watership Brass to play seemed a fitting way to remember Ron and celebrate his huge contribution to the band” added Mark.

Following its first public performance earlier this year, Mark was keen to get a high quality recording done, so reached out for help to the current West of England Champions, Aldbourne. They were only too pleased to take up the challenge and found time in their busy rehearsal schedule to record the piece.

“I’m extremely grateful to Glyn Williams and the great musicians at Aldbourne for creating a definitive recording of On Acorn Ridge. To have the best band in our local area perform and record this new work is both humbling and greatly satisfying” concluded Mark.