FRODSHAM’S Christmas festival will be quieter this year after the town’s Silver Band was left out of the annual line-up.
Every year thousands of adults and children enjoy the town’s Christmas festival, which has featured the musical mainstaysfor the last 20 years.
Norman Denaro, musical director of the 100-year-old band, said: “It came as a real shock and everyone in the band is very upset. Everywhere we go we represent Frodsham, so I’m disgusted with the town council.
“We’re only a small town band and we rely on every engagement we can get to raise funds to keep us going.
“The little ones were looking forward to playing at this event for the first time and they feel really let down.”
The band, which has about 25 members, ranging from schoolchildren to grandparents, even turned down a £180 booking at a church, presuming, as a regular, it would be playing at the event again.
Secretary Carolyn Hopley, who has played in the band for 20 years, said: “We always play at Castle Park when the town’s lights are turned on at Christmas and now they have said we aren’t required.
“We feel like we have been brushed off and we don’t want the public to think that the band hasn’t bothered turning up.
“A lot of the youngsters enjoy playing at Christmas because it is more relaxed and we have a lot of fun. I have been going for years but I definitely won’t be there this year.”
The festival is organised by Frodsham Town Council and includes a Santa’s grotto in Castle Park and attractions in Main Street.
Frodsham town councillor Rita Shear, who chairs the amenities committee which made the decision, said: “It is not a slight in any way on the Silver Band but they shouldn’t assume that they are going to get the booking every year.
“It is up to them to approach the council about the booking, I am not aware that we have been approached.
“Because Frodsham High School was closing we thought it would be appropriate to do a final farewell and they were more than happy to involve the youngsters and sing carols.”
