Well – it’s another year…

… welcome back to more of the same!  I hope you all had a good festive season and are now fully recovered from any hangovers, “lurgies” and over-indulgence.

Carolling – Well done everybody!

This years carolling was very successful, with no jobs lost to bad weather. A highlight was definitely the Christmas Eve celebration at the Blacksmith’s Arms, Swinton – if you weren’t there you missed quite an occasion. Let’s hope it becomes an annual fixture!  Despite all the pundits who said that the festive spend was well down, people seem to have been very generous this year and several jobs produced record totals!  The results are not confirmed as yet but seem to be little short of last year’s record take!

Thanks to all those who gave up their evening and weekends to get cold, wet and miserable in a good cause! The turnout on outside jobs was great – well done! It was very nice to see so many learners braving the combined terrors of the cold and the main band! Thanks too to the hardy few who gave up their evenings to brave the local pubs – these are very good earners for the band and we are duly grateful!

Thanks also go to all the parents, grandparents and others who gave up their free time to rattle collecting tins and brave fierce dogs!  You did us proud!

A very special word of thanks is due to a group of players who while not regularly playing with the band (mainly ex-players) rallied round at short notice to ensure that Christmas Eve playing in all the “Street” pubs could actually take place! At lunch-time on Christmas Eve the projected turnout from the main band was Steve!  A little arm-twisting paid dividends and so we owe a big THANK YOU to Matthew L, Matthew M, Josh, Pete, Susan, Lizzie and Dan who came to the rescue!

  Kirkbymoorside Band – Christmas Social.

This is at Kirkbymoorside Golf Club on January 25^th, 7.30 for 8.00 p.m^..  The cost is £11 each – please can you let Dorothy have the money (cheques payable to Dorothy please!) as soon as humanly possible!

Jumble Sale at Sheriff Hutton

The Jumblies have now allocated us a date for one of their famed jumble sales.  It will be on April 12^th at Sheriff Hutton Villlage Hall from 2.00 till 4.00.  These events are fantastic fund-raisers but do not run themselves.

We will need about nine volunteers on the day to run the Tombola, Raffle and Cake stalls and to serve refreshments.  Any help with transporting jumble beforehand and rubbish afterwards will also be very welcome!

We will also need about 120 tombola prizes and vast quantities of good quality jumble – so now is a really good time to turn out your wardrobes and re-organise the house!

Attention all Learners

Because of the YBS concert on 26^th January, there will be no learners session that evening – instead there will be one on Sunday 27th at 2.30 p.m.  If you would like to go to the concert please let Catherine know ASAP!

The Annual Nag!!

1.  Uniform

Now is the time to ensure that all is well on the uniform front.  If your jacket needs cleaning, now is a good time to do it!

Check that you have black trousers and shoes that are clean and smart, and that fit – discovering that your trousers won’t do up on the morning of a contest is not good!

Check that your band cagoule is in your case (either instrument or jacket) so that it comes to all jobs.

Make sure that you have a jacket case in good condition and that both it and your jacket are clearly labelled with your full name and that of the band – it’s horribly easy to mislay things at contests.

2. Instruments

Now is the best time to clean out and check your instrument, so you can get it back in tune and in full working order in plenty of time for Darlington. (you will not be the first to find bizarre objects (coins, cigarette butts, old socks, etc) in your instrument after carolling!)  Valve oil is available from Dorothy at a very reasonable price.  There are also some pull-throughs available – if you need one see Catherine.  Any requests for felts, springs etc or maintenance problems – Steve is your man!

Please, please, always carry your instrument in a proper case, preferably a hard one.  They are designed to protect your instrument and repairs can be horribly expensive!

Now is also a good time to check your instrument insurance cover.  Remember that if an insurance company can wriggle out of paying up it will do so.  Things they don’t like include gig-bags and instruments left in cars (even well-locked ones) for any length of time.  If you have any queries about this ask Dorothy for advice!

3. Miscellaneous

Please continue to take care how you park in the village – don’t block drives or park on the grass!

Please try and make it on time for band practices and jobs and show courtesy both to other members of the band and our public!

At the end of a job, be sure to put away your stand, banner, folder, instrument and chair.  Then help to pack the trailer – please!  If you are going to have to rush away, please tell Dorothy in advance!  Offers of help at the Bandroom end are always appreciated!

HERE ENDETH THE NAG (until next time!!!!)

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

 Happy Birthday to:      

                           Ellis      9^th January
 
As usual to anyone else I have missed – Happy Birthday!  

Vacancies

We are still short of cornets so if you know or hear of any experienced cornet (or even trumpet!) players looking for a band please try and point them in our direction - the more the merrier!

We could also use a second euphonium so if you know anyone who might be interested....

Whit-Friday…
…is sooner than you think – you will need to get Friday off work for this as we’ll want to be starting to play at about 4.00 p.m. in Saddleworth! It’s a great evening out and an opportunity to have fun, do some playing and listen to and meet loads of other bands – can’t wait!

Area Contest

Please be aware that our next contest is the Area Contest at Darlington on SATURDAY 29^th March.  Please be sure you have got the day off work! We have to be up there in time for the draw so the coach will probably need to leave Norton at about  8.30 a.m. (Aaaargh!) 

Practice copies of the test piece, if you haven’t got them, are available from Catherine.

Committee Meeting

Committee members, please remember the committee meeting this Thursday at 7.30 at the Bandroom.  If you want anything raised please talk to a committee member soon!