We are very, very fortunate to have Anne Downton as our President. Apart from a 14 year spell when she 'emigrated' to Moreton Valence, Anne has lived in Frampton for all of her very active life and there is very little, if anything, about Frampton that Anne doesn't know. Indeed there can't be many people in the area that haven't met her through one or more of her many activities.

She will tell you stories about going to Primary School in Saul on a donkey with a wartime gas mask slung over her shoulder or, how, when a little older the 'church choir outings' to Barry Island were an annual treat with fond memories of the 'Ghost Train' at the fairground there! And later still, after leaving Stroud High School, how she worked in banking in London (not many people left the village to work 'away' then!) until, in 1955 with husband Conrad she set up "C M Downton - Haulage" (more later).

Around the village - well where to start? I don’t think she ever kept goal for the Football Club or opened the bowling for cricket on the Green (not that she wouldn’t have given either a go!) but just about every other aspect of village life has benefited from her efforts. A member of one of the first playgroups in the area (when the children were small), appearing on stage with the local drama group, leader of Guides and Brownies, following in her father's footsteps as a Parish Councillor, years as a School Governor of local Primary and Secondary Schools, Secretary of the QE II Silver Jubilee Committee in Frampton, WI President, Member of the Advisory Council for BBC Local Radio, Volunteer driver for the WRVS etc. etc.

She has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Band from the day the idea was conceived, attending just about all the local concerts we have ever given! More than that, however, she has proved herself to be an almost irresistible force when it has come to any sort of fund raising activities we have undertaken. Giving her time or writing very persuasive letters to anyone she thought might be able to help and, if approached personally, who could ever resist her infectious enthusiasm and lovely smile? Not many, that’s for sure! (She probably owns the band's horn section through her efforts alone!).

And apart from supporting us? One of Anne’s passions is horse racing - ask her nicely and she must have contacts to give you a few tips! And for more about her younger days - a polite enquiry about “the cooking sherry from Mrs. Jones’ shop” will produce some interesting anecdotes.

But there is even more....

Through Anne we have benefited hugely by having a link with DOWNTON - Real Distribution Solutions. Firstly the company was kind enough to provide us with one of their vans for our tour to Weymouth (we were fortunate that Sally the Bass drives for them).

But more particularly, for the last three years, the company has sponsored "Downton Severnside Brass" by providing shirts and allowing us to use their logo. "Downton Severnside Brass" is really 'Frampton and Friends'. You may have heard this somewhat random collection of 'musicians' in the Saturday afternoon slot at the annual Frocester Beer Festival organised jointly by Dursley Lions and Frocester Cricket Club. Not only a very enjoyable place to be, but latterly DSB has been able to support the work of two charities through its efforts - the 'Trefor Evans Trust' ( Trefor played with Lydbrook Band as well as guesting for Frampton on many occasions - he tragically died in 2006) and a trust in memory of Kaye Moss - wife of Trevor Moss (again of Lydbrook Band) and a good friend of ours.



Oh! And “Frampton’s Friends” - players we know from Lydbrook, Forest of Dean, Sharpness and Cheltenham Bands in particular. Have a look at their websites through links of the Gloucestershire Brass Band Website.