A SALE City Band· concert is really entertainment plus.

The recent coffee melody night was an outstanding success enjoyed by all.

Guest appearances by Darryl King (light baritone), Roma Hornby, Marge Traill and Nance Darley (duet, piano and vocal), John Hanlon (bagpipes), the Lillicrapp family (short play) were all very well received.

The addition of reed instruments to provide concert band numbers added further variety.

With Robin Lillicrapp as master of ceremonies and bandmaster Hugh Davies introducing the musical numbers the evening was relaxed and informative.

It was good that two band stalwarts Marge Garner and Lucy Wallace received badge presentations in recognition of their work for the band over many years.

Congratulations to all involved with the City Band, in particular bandmaster Hugh Davies and committee president Doug Tulip.

PLAYING IN SALE Band is not all glamorous. Hard work goes into preparation for various events. Rehearsing last week were Fiona Mowat (left) and Holly Lillicrapp, with advice from bandmaster Mr Hugh Davies.

Sale City Band travelled to Melbourne on Sunday to take part in the Victorian Band League's winter championships at Kew High School.

Sale was only Band from the Gippsland area, and with the Melton Community Band was the only band from outside Melbourne.

Entered in the D Grade Contest, which it won last year, the band played for the major work "Kaleidoscope", and for the two concert times, ''The Keel Row" and "Into Thy Hands".

Adjudicators gave first place to Brighton Municipal Band with 455 points, Sale second on 453, City of Heidelberg was third with 414 points and Melton fourth with 376.

Sale is highly respected in the contest circle with the neat and tidy appearance of their uniform and the number of young members.

The average age of the band is much lower than normal, although the evergreen young Len Pendlebury upsets the averages with his 85 not out.

Band members were: musical director: Mr Hugh Davies, Cornets: Barry Settle, Ray Jago, Peter Howe, Mark Hanlon, Gary Jackson, Fiona Shaw, Alistair Miller, Damien Hole, Robert Beard, Greg Hanlon, Chris Hole, Bjorn Vodanovich. Basses: Harry Fehst, lan Davidson, Bob Wallace, Mike Vodanovich. Tenor horn: Jonathon Miller, Kate Watson, Vicky Geddes. Euphonium: Leon Salter, Len Pendlebury. Baritone: Holly Lillicrapp, Fiona Band. Trombone: Fiona Mowat, Kynan Graves. Percussion: Matthew Monck, Paul Erbs, Dale Kent. Alison Tulip and Elva Vodanovich were unable to attend because of illness.