MSB Chairman Adam Weds His Cornet Cutie!

It was a case of bunting, ice cream and music, music, music at the recent wedding of band members Katie Topp [cornet] and Adam Smith [horn]. The bride, daughter of cornet player Michael and Band Secretary Claire, and great-grandaughter of band co-founder Thomas Topp, travelled to the ceremony in the Clock Barn at Tufton Warren, Whitchurch in a ribbon-bedecked VW Campervan. Katie met Adam, son of Liz and Alec Smith formerly of Appleshaw near Andover, through her love of music as they both played in the Test Valley Mitutoyo Brass band at the time. With some 9 members of MSB being involved in the bridal party, the couple achieved a long-held ambition as their guests were entertained by ‘Clock Barn Brass’ - a ‘super-band’ made up of friends and players with whom they have had the privilege of performing during their playing careers. Making a very colourful line-up in the uniforms of their ‘home’ bands were players from Michelmersh Silver, Test Valley Brass, Portishead Town, SWT Woodfalls, Woodfalls Concert, Hampshire Youth and Shrewton. Adam’s family friend and banding mentor Steve Large had the honour of wielding the baton.

The bride wore a fitted ivory satin gown with a net overlay and train, embroidered with pearls and crystal beading, and carried a posy of roses, stocks and honeysuckle. Katie was attended by bridesmaids Alice Brown (cousin), Laura Osman (school friend), Jo and Carrie Dobson, and Claire Eldridge (friends and fellow MSB members) wearing soft-green empire line, cocktail length dresses of satin with an organza overlay. The wedding party was completed by Page Boy Charlie Topp (nephew of the bride), Best Man David Wrench and four ushers, all friends of the Groom and MSB members.

Music inevitably played a large part in the wedding service with guests being entertained before the service with music including the horn solo ‘Demelza’ played by Katie’s brother Jeremy, and ‘Meditation from Thais’ played by Adrian Wallace. (Adrian was fulfilling a promise made to Katie when she was 16, and having heard him play it in concert had begged him to play it at her wedding if she ever got married!) The bride made a dramatic (and emotional!) entrance to R.Banks’ arrangement of  Strauss’s ‘Fest Musik Der Stadt Wien’. During the service Jan Boler played the cornet solo ‘Stolen Kiss’ from Cry of the Celts and as the Register was signed, was joined by husband Richard Boler on euphonium, (after a pause for a very emotional Jan to regain her composure!), for the duet ‘Shepherd’s Song’. A very happy Mr and Mrs Smith left the Barn, followed by their guests, dancing to the strains of the up-tempo ‘Lightwalk’.

Clock Barn Brass played a short concert of the happy couple’s favourite pieces as Pimms and canapes were served on the lawn, before changing in to posh frocks and suits and transforming into much-valued wedding guests. After a delicious barbecue meal, it was a case of cornets again - this time made of wafer not brass  - as guests were served with the bride’s favourite ice cream from Carlo’s Ices of West Wellow – another of Katie’s long-held ambitions!

After partying the night away in the Clock Barn, the couple travelled to Cornwall in the campervan for their honeymoon, and have made their home in Winchester Road, Romsey.