December 2011

Seasons greetings to all band members.It's a while since ive written so here goes an update on:

• Christmas engagements (theres a very important addition on the 12th)
• Limping Leigh and Leyland
• Butlins and the Area Contest
• Vacancies and player movement
• Travelling uniform
• CD recording
• Teamer.net
• Vetting
• Whit Friday Marches

A brief reminder of what is on the events list -

• Sunday 4th - Light Up a Light, St. Marys Church, Barnsley - This is a double carol service and a new organiser this year has seen some changes, including soup and a roll during the break between performances. The actual service start times are 3.30 and 7.30
• Sunday 11th - Niagara Christmas concert - our annual concert ay South Yorkshire Police Sports and Social Club
• Monday 12th - 6.30pm Fire/Police concert Lifewise, Hellaby, Rotherham - This is a new event announced some weeks ago but I'm aware some of our rehearsals have had low numbers so this may be new to you. This is the proposed location of the new band room, the concert is important because the organisers control the bands budget and they also decide where and how much space is available to the band at Lifewise. Please make every effort to attend this concert
• Saturday 17th - Cutlers hall Senior officers Christmas ball - our last engagement of 2011. Again an early start and a long night but a fantastic audience and venue. We may be joined by a Humberside Police Piper but more on that later.
• The band then shuts down until the New year - the butlins rehearsal schedule will be published in the next week.

• Limping Leigh

Most of you are aware that last Monday Leigh had an operation on his leg and is out of action for a couple of weeks. I spoke to him on Tuesday and the Op went well and he's keen to get back. In the mean time Steve March is covering for him and will be taking the next couple of rehearsals. Leigh has also resigned as resident conductor of Carlton Main Frickley Band after being signed up by Leyland. new and exciting times for Leigh in the new year. That will inevitably lead to clashes of engagements, the first being butlins and the area contest. The committee is keeping a keen eye on the clashes and Leigh has been flexible in his approach and whilst we have a guest MD for Butlins, Leigh is taking us to the Area finals 

• Butlins

Saturday 21st January sees us perform High Peak in the first section against over 20 other bands. Competition will be tight. Leigh will prepare the band to the final week and Michael Howley (MD of the Hepworth band) will rehearse the final week and take us on stage. We are stopping Friday night at the Royal Hotel again and if you have any guest requirements please let me know ASAP. 

• Area contest

Sunday 4th March 2012 - An afternoon contest with another mountainous piece with Leigh in charge. 

• Vacancies

Our current vacancies are for a first horn, bumper up cornet and a decision from Leigh on how we fill he repiano chair. Lizzie has kindly stepped up to try this chair. Rhianne Alderslade is helping out at Light up a life and we have interest from a horn player called Lisa Thorpe who will be down for a blow on Wednesday, she is doing Niagara and Cutlers Hall. Emma on 2nd horn handed in her resignation earlier this week. It will be sad to see her go as she has been with the band for 15 years but ever increasing work commitments and a May baby has combined to force this decision. We wish Emma well for the future and expect to here more in May. If any player has any ideas for players particularly solo cornet, please let me or Rob Hibberd know ASAP 

• Travelling uniform

The new uniform has arrived and Emma is holding off issuing it whilst we await some out of stock jackets. The plan is to run them out at Butlins.  

• CD recording

KMJ recordings have started work on the first draft, the running order has been provided to allow licences to be purchased and the programme notes are being written. I had hoped for a pre-Christmas release but there was always an 8 week lead time and it will be into January. 

• teamer.net

We introduced this to professionalise how we tell you about concerts and rehearsals, and how you indicate your availability. Is a free service and seems to work. Band members get either a text and or email notification and a request to confirm your attendance. The web site allows you to inform the band of your holidays and availability and has made managing events, deps etc so much easier. It also allows every band member to see who is attending or why they have declined. If you are updating teamer about availability there is no need to text the band mobile phone as well, unless its on the day emergencies. 

• Vetting

Most of you received vetting forms from Carly Moore just over a week ago. A change in policy at work has required regular vetting of persons on police premises. I appreciate its a lot to fill in and proof of identify is needed to be verified by me but we have little choice. This should be a formality for most of you but if anyone does have any concerns about a previous conviction, however minor please speak/email me. It is better to disclose than for it to be found later. 

• Finally Whit Friday marches

The committee wants the band to attend next year, its on Friday 1st June 2012, are you able to finish work early that day to allow us to set off and compete early? I know that causes problems for some and I will post a teamer event to see if its a runner regardsSimon