Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Flowers Band (Gloucester) was formed as a result of the disbandment of the Royal Gloucester Hussars (Territorial Army) Brass Band.   After negotiation with the Ministry of Defence, the instruments were purchased and most of the former bandsmen and a few others, formed the City of Gloucester Band.   Since then the band has had a variety of sponsors including Whitbread and Flowers Brewery.   In 1998 the Flowers brewery closed, but the band kept the name it has become synonymous with.

It has enjoyed much success in the contest field and currently holds the 2018 Butlin’s Mineworkers Championship and Entertainment Trophies, a title it has won on six previous occasions.   In March, it also regained the title of 2018 West of England Regional Champion.  In recent years, Flowers has reached new heights with a third place at the British Open Championships in 2014, 4th place at the National Championships of Great Britain in 2015, and a French Open victory in 2016, all of which have led it to be firmly placed in the top 10 of the World Brass Band rankings.  With an enviable reputation for showcasing new music, entertainment and innovation on the concert stage, the band has regularly toured Europe, and also appeared at the prestigious Cheltenham Music Festival.   It recently launched its latest CD "Celebrate! - 50 years of The Flowers Band".

Nethra Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) is an academy conducting Indian performing arts - Bharatanatyam (Classical Dance), Carnatic Vocal (Music), Mirudagam (Instrument) and Bollywood Dance.   The main ethos of the academy is to raise the profile of Indian performing arts and to help individuals connect with the Indian culture which has a rich history and tradition in dance and music. NAPA’s gurus and volunteers have day  jobs in such areas as computer engineering, banking and architecture.  It is their interest and passion in the arts that made them come together to start this academy and provide a quality education and training to members of the local community at an affordable fee. Its main objectives are to mentor and coach the current and future generations in the performing arts, bring communities together for the benefit of all, and involve communities and individuals of all ethnic backgrounds, culture and religion.

NAPA is a very young organization that started its journey in January 2018 from just handful of students and now we have more than 25 students learning dance and music.

NAPA is organising various events in Gloucester/Cheltenham to create a platform for their students and other local artists to show their talent to the wider communities and to build up their confidence to learn the art forms.

To enrol or for more details, please contact:

Mrs Ramya Ravishankar - 07912965308
Mrs Gayathiri Gowri Shankar - 07554004795

Ballet lessons with Jackie Thomas are held during the week at Barbican House.

For more information email