Congratulations

                    Mr. President

                                             Roy Newsome

                  Scores 10 Octaves!

We are delighted to send  congratulations to our President Dr Roy Newsome on reaching his 80th birthday.

17th July

Vetting and Baring Scheme

The Government has halted the introduction of the new Vetting and Barring Scheme and will review it to see if it needs amending in line with its policy of looking at new legislation to see if it is necessary.

You will still need to get CRB Checks for your band members working with young people or vulnerable adults in the mean time.

Further information is available on our advice page.

Faireys Fly to English National Title               

Stockport based Fairey (Geneva) Band ended a seven year drought by winning the English National Brass Band Championships at Preston, Guild Hall on Saturday, 26th. June, their first title since taking the Championship Section of the Nationals in 2003

Our congratulations to all band members and to their conductor Russell Gray, who seems to be making a speciality of winning with the test piece 'Eden' by John Pickard.

Their solo trombone Les Web took the solist title. 

The adjudicators Derek Broadbent, David Horsfield and Kevin Wadsworth considered Fairey's performance of the difficult test piece 'Eden' as outstanding.

The band will represent England at the 2011 European Championships which will take place in Geneva. 

We wish them all success.

Full Results:

1. Fairey (Geneva) (Russell Gray), 7
2. Black Dyke (Dr Nicholas Childs), 2
3. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts), 5
4. Reg Vardy (Ray Farr), 9
5. Leyland (Philip Harper), 6
6. Fodens (Dr James Gourlay), 3
7. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths), 1
8. Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts), 4
9. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham), 8

The AGM was held on Monday 24th May at Woodley Civic Hall.  

The meeting was preceded by an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting at which the result of the recent postal ballot of the membership & the NWABBA Executive on "The Association - Dissolution of the Two Districts - High Peak and Manchester" was announced by the Chairman, Peter Bates.   73 ballot papers were issued with 42 being returned.   40 bands were in favour of the Resolution, 1 band was against the Resolution and 1 abstention was recorded.    The meeting ratified the result which means that High Peak and Manchester Districts will cease to exist as at 1st January 2011 and all assets and funds will be transferred to the one administration.   Safeguards have been put in place to ensure the continuation of the successful Buxton Brass Band Festival, under the new administration.      The EGM also approved a new Constitution and Rules for the NWABBA which will come into effect on 1st January 2011.

The AGM then followed and reports were given by the Officers and accepted by the meeting.  The elected NWABBA Executive for the coming year will consist of Chairman - Peter Bates, Secretary -Shirley Woodward, Treasurer - Ken Watts, Delegates - Eric Crosthwaite, Margaret Ireland, Lesley Reynolds and Sheila Walton.

Invoices for the 2010/11 NWABBA Subscription will be sent out to the membership shortly and it is hoped  to have the continued support of our bands.

NWABBA Bands Celebrate Their Success at the Regional Championships

Congratulations to North West Regional Champions,  Foden's who set a new record by winning five Championship Section Contests in five years, beating the record of four wins by CWS Manchester between 1966 to 69.  Garry Cutt, their conductor, set his own personal record by recording five wins in his own right. (4 with Fodens and one with Leyland.).

Congratulations also to the Fairey (Geneva) Band (Philip Chalk) and Leyland Band (Howard Evans) who qualified for the Royal Albert Hall.

Honourable mention must also be made of the Co-operative Milnrow (John Ward). 6th in the North West and Glossop Old (Philip Pavey) 6th at the Midlands.

Silk Brass Macclesfield (David Hollins) qualified for Harrogate with a a second place in the First Section N.West. Bollington Brass just missed out on a place at Harrogate by coming third in the N.W.

It was a welcome victory for Tintwistle (Sarah Groarke) who took the Second Section at the Midlands Contest.

James Shepherd led Diggle to victory at the North West Second Section

Phil Goodwin of Black Dyke fame, conducted Delph to win the N.W. Third Section.  Cheshire Constabulary (David Woollam)  booked their place at Harrogate, coming third in the Third Section, North West, with Uppermill (Alan Widdup) just missing out in 4th Place.

The Fourth Section North West was a complete NWABBA bands roll over of the prize winners with Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley) celebrating a complete turnabout of fortune from last year, when they were declared winners of the section.

Joining them at Harrogate will be Besses Boys (James Holt) who came runners up and Farnworth and Walkden (Peter Ashley) in third place.

4th place went to Nelson Brass (Steve Brodie), 5th Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth) and 6th Dobcross Youth (James Garlick).

The accolate for the most considerate band of the day must go to Middleton Band, who had requested a replacement percussion player from the previous band on medical grounds..  It turned out the percussion player from Ecclestone Brass was a ten year old girl who played her part with beautifully.

Full marks to the Middleton players who waited for her to come off stage and gave her a round of applause.  We are sure that it will live in that young lady's memory all her life. 

Sometimes brass bands can give you back your faith in human nature!

A Hundred Years of Service to Nelson  Brass Celebrated

Milton Pickles and Peter Kendall received their Long Service Medals from our Chairman Peter Bates, with band secretary Agnes Stringfellow looking on.  The presentation was made at the band's Annual Dinner Dance, held at St. John's Church Hall, Nelson.  Both players have spent fifty years as part of Nelson Brass.  Our congratulations to them both.

Who Does Not Have to Register with the New Vetting and Barring Scheme?

Ed Ball's Minister for schools, Children and Families has issued a document outi lining who will not have to register with the ISA (Indepndant Safeguarding Authority).

It can be downloaded from 'Vetting and barring myth buster'. 

We will keep you informed as new information comes out.

NWABBA Member Bands' Links

If you would like an email and/or your band website link put in our listing, please send the information into us by the 'CONTACT US' link

NWABBA Member Bands

Have You Looked at our Bands Wanted Page?

We get regular requests from event organisers wanting bands.  We post all requests on our Bands Wanted page.  Make sure you visit the page.  It may be to your band's advantage.

Want to advertise your events, items for sale, missing equipment?  Let us have your information and we will be happy to post it on the web site. 

    NWABBA Unveils New

    Long Service Medal

Following requests from our member bands, the NWABBA have had a special medal struck to celebrate long service.

The medal is gold plated, with bars on which details of the service may be engraved.

Requests for the award may be made on behalf of NWABBA band members who have served for a minimum of 50 years.

A request form is available on our 'downloads' page or in your band's 'Band Administration Handbook'.