1 year on and the newsletter is still going strong! I find it hard to believe that I have managed to keep this going for a whole year. Only a few times have you only had one page to read and it’s only been late a couple of times (which is quite good going for me!). So for the last time I find myself sitting here yet again trying to work out what to write, here goes…………

It’s all change again……

Robin has decided that Swinton Band is like an addictive drug that he just can’t give up. He tried to go cold turkey, but he has fallen off the wagon and will return to his familiar position in the middle of the band room from September. This means that we wave goodbye to Stewart Thorp after all his help and support through the summer. Big thanks also go to Steve for picking up the baton and keeping the band going over the past few months. And how could I forget, thanks also go to Stewart W for jumping into the breach when he was asked.

The return of Robin is not the only change. As a result of some excellent A-level results we wave a tearful goodbye to two of our players. Heather and Josh are both moving onto pastures new. Like all our students we hope it will not be goodbye for long, you will be needed for Christmas playing and we hope to see you then!

Thank-yous

As a result of all this fundraising there are a few thank-yous due to everyone who has been involved this summer. Thanks especially go to Fran and Peter Leadill and the rest of the family. Fran and Peter not only let the band use their garden for the garden fete, but also spent their afternoon at Burnby Hall blowing up balloons. They were not alone in this task they were helped by various parents and friends of the band, so thank you to you all! Thanks also go to Beccy who organised and then bullied (in a nice way!) people to sell their tickets. Without that effort the balloon race would not have happened and we would still be a long way from our target.

Thanks are also due to Tracey for organising the garden party and to all those who helped out and ran stalls. Yet more thanks are due to Pete and Matthew M for organising the treasure hunt which was enjoyed by all. Last but not least we say thank-you to Lizzie & Matthew for their brave fundraising efforts!

It’s that time of the year…….

…….. when we say goodbye and thank-you to our many students. We again say goodbye to Lizzie, Susan, Tom, Pete, Matthew, Ruth and me (sob sob). But this year we also say goodbye to Heather who goes to Lancaster University to study Geography and to Josh who goes to Sheffield Hallam to study Law.

Josh and Heather are not the only people who have just received exam results though, Nicole also received some staggering GCSE results and so now moves onto sixth form to start studying towards her A-levels.

Well done to all who received exam results in the past few weeks and good luck to those who are moving onto new and exciting things.

£2000 down, £7000 to go!

August may have been one of the wettest months on record, but the weather was supporting the band with its fundraising efforts. The day of the garden fete was glorious and so was definitely a factor in the spectacular £656.40 which was raised. The weather gods were again with us for the launch of the balloons at Burnby Hall. After a very wet start to the afternoon, the high winds ensured that most of the 560 balloons sold got a good head start (the trees did attempt to claim several victims!). In total the balloon race raised a staggering £833.67!

These were not the only fundraising efforts through August. Did you make use of Lizzie & Matthew's instrument cleaning service? If so then you helped to raise over £55 for band funds. And if you took part in the treasure hunt then you helped Matthew and Pete to raise an incredible £70.20.

All these fundraising efforts plus some very generous donations has meant that we have managed to raise in excess of £2000 towards the rebuilding of the bandroom wall, this leaves a mere £7000 to raise! So get your thinking caps on and try and think of some more fun and exciting fundraising ideas. Remember it’s your bandroom at stake.

Birthdays

Ha ha – There is no escape from standing on your chair!      

Lizzie – 4^th

Stewart – 7^th

Nicole – 11^th   
                                               
Jessica – 16^th

Kath – 17^th

Hedley – 19^th

Will H – 27^th (18!!!)

Josh – 28^th

& last but not least Ruth – 30^th


It’s a busy one this month so I hope I have got it right this month and as usual, apologies if I have missed anyone.

Last call for instruments

If you want Lizzie and Matthew to clean out your instrument then this week is your last chance before Lizzie returns to Salford. Your next chance will be Christmas, so if your instrument is starting to smell talk to Lizzie quick!

WANTED
One newsletter editor required.

Immediate start, competitive salary, flexible working hours. Exciting opportunity for development.



Contact Mary or Dorothy for further details.






Closing date for applications: 30^th September 2004