Summer is here!

This means we don’t know what it will throw at us next, so do remember to take waterproofs, sunglasses, thermoses, water and possibly skis to all jobs!

Sad News

As you will know by now, Valerie finally lost her amazingly courageous fight against cancer over the last couple of years. Valerie was a member of Swinton for nearly 20 years starting as Rep before moving to trombone. As a professional bassoonist her standards were uncompromising and her dedication to band was total, thinking nothing of driving through the night to return for a band job after a concert the other side of the country on the bassoon. She continued to play in the band until the last month of her life and to be involved in it right up to the end.  Her strength of character, generosity, courage and humour were an example and inspiration to us all and she will be hugely missed both as a key band member and as a good friend.

Personally I shall really miss the irreverent comments and caricatures with which she perpetually ornamented her music – going through her folder was always entertaining!  And her unerring capacity for picking up Typos in the newsletter!!

Valerie's funeral will be at Octon Crematorium on Tuesday June 29th at 2.00 p.m. It has been requested that those attending wear pastel and bright colours to reflect Valerie’s love of flowers and especially sweet peas.  Wearing a band lapel badge would also be appropriate. 

Donations in Valerie’s memory are to be for St Catherine’s Hospice, and Dorothy will be making a collection on Monday and Wednesday nights.

There are plans for a memorial concert and tea-party later on at a time and place to be arranged.  Watch this space!

 Birthdays

                                                     

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

Anna                16^th July      
Nigel                17^th July
Janella             21^st July


Happy Birthday (belated or otherwise) to: 


As usual to anyone else I have missed –   Happy Birthday!  

Malton Brass

Sadly, as too few bands have entered, Malton Brass contest has had to be cancelled this year.  Hopefully next year it will be back and we will be playing at it.

Engagement lists

Please can you go through your engagement list, mark up the jobs you can and can’t do, put your name on it and hand it over to Dorothy as soon as possible.  She will then copy it onto her master list and let you have it back.  If you’ve managed to lose your list, please get a replacement from Dorothy.  Please do this, as it is a bad enough job trying to cover absences when we know about them in advance – trying to cover them at the last minute is a nightmare!

Holiday List

The Holiday List is up on the notice board.  Please fill in absolutely any dates when you know that you will be away that may affect either band practices or engagements.  This helps Nigel to plan practices and Dorothy to try and find players to take your place in advance!  The sooner Dorothy can start looking the easier it is for her to ensure we have a full band for all engagements!

Solo Contest

Yes, I know it’s a long time ahead but do get planning.  What are you going to play?  If you are struggling for ideas, copies etc. see Steve and he will be glad to advise!  This year it will take place on 23^rd October at Swinton Sports Centre. Last year was a fantastic event – hopefully this year will be even better!

Advance Warning!

Next year, we have been offered another Jumble Sale at Sheriff Hutton.  For those of you that don’t know these they are major fundraisers; the “Jumblies” run them but they are dependent on us collecting jumble for them to sell.  So if you are turning out your cupboards please can you store your jumble for next year.  Nearer the time we will also need raffle and tombola prizes and cakes, scones etc.  It’s hard work but well worth it!

Hardraw Contest

Please can you check your availability for this one now and let Dorothy know if you have problems with the date.  We are definitely going, but if we need to borrow players Dorothy will need to know as soon as may be!

Well Done!

On 31^st May, Maggie and Suzanne ran the Refreshment stall at Hovingham Car Boot sale in aid of Band Funds.  This was a great success and they raised a tidy sum for the band.  Thanks to all those who baked cakes and scones and to all those who sold them!  A fantastic effort!

Peasholme Park

This is a job where it makes a lot of sense to share cars as parking can be difficult to find and very expensive.  If you do get a lift, please be prepared to contribute towards petrol costs.

Also, please remember that the boat leaves at 1.30 and will not wait for late arrivals – swimming across is not recommended! It is however a good idea to take drinks and eats across to the bandstand – access to the shore is limited during the interval.

TIP OF THE MONTH

Make friends and influence people – help with setting up and putting away after band jobs.  Many hands make light work and most of the work involved in this IS light.  We all want to get away quickly – if you help we all can!

If you don’t know how the percussion sets up or takes apart – ASK!  It’s not rocket science – or percussionists couldn’t do it!! (Contrary to popular belief neither Derek, nor Mike are employed by NASA!  Given Mary’s arcane interests and skills it is possible that she might be!)

The actual loading of the trailer should usually be left to the person who is going to drive it, so that he can get the weight distribution right.  Bring things in the order he asks for them!

Offers to return to the Bandroom to help unpack will usually be very welcome!

Brass band book

A book on banding in the North of England has been produced and is available for sale in aid of Band funds at the knockdown price of £7.00.  Dorothy has plenty of copies so please see her if you’d like a copy.

Band Barbecue/ Social Night/ Trophy Presentation

This year the barbeque is being held at Swinton Sports centre on Saturday 24^th July starting at 7.00. All band members and their families are very welcome. 

As the Band Dinner had to be cancelled, this will also be when the annual awards are presented.

There will be a raffle so please bring prizes along on the night!

As part of the Social evening there will be a slide show with as many really embarrassing photos as we can dig up (see below!)

We are asking for a £2.00 donation (£5.00 for families) to help towards the food costs (the club bar will be open throughout the evening!)  A form is available with a slip to fill in so that the catering crew know how many they have to feed!

Photos Wanted! An appeal from Catherine.

Please can people who have got photos of the band or band members (the more embarrassing the better!) let me have a copy for inclusion in the slide show!  I’d be especially glad of photos over the last year, but I’m also looking for older ones to augment what I’ve got!

Format can be electronic (JPEGs, Bitmaps etc.) or prints that I can scan and return to you.  I’d rather not cope with slides but if you’ve got wonderful ones, I’ll see what I can do!  Either give them to me at band or email them to tabletweaver@aol.com

Appearances matter!

Please remember when we are out on a job we are on display and people will judge the band by our appearance even before we blow a note!  This means that we need to take a pride both in our deportment and our uniform.

Obvious things like punctuality, helping set up rather than standing around chatting, being tidy about where we put instrument cases etc. shouldn’t need to be said, but all too often they do!

The presentation of the band is very important. It has attracted comment on that the overall standard of dress has deteriorated recently. 

To remind you, the uniform is:

Band Jacket (plain black blazer for juniors). Make sure your name is in it. 

Band Tie – Dorothy has new ties with the proper band logo on them.  Present her with your old tie (washed and ready to use) and she will exchange it for a nice new one!

Band Jumper if required (bought from band or plain black v-neck) 

White shirt - PLEASE ensure your shirt is clean and well ironed. PLEASE wear shirts with proper collars, not blouses or open-neck shirts that won’t take a tie.  Most important, PLEASE tuck your shirt into your trousers – this isn’t a fashion statement, it’s band uniform!

Black TAILORED TROUSERS (not ski pants, cords or jeans), with black socks or tights and black shoes (not trainers). Please note that the current band uniform does NOT include skirts.  If you feel this is not right then bring the matter before the committee – the band uniform is not unchangeable.  However until such a change is made, PLEASE don’t wear skirts

Black tights or Black socks – flesh-coloured tights or bare legs are unacceptable.

Black Shoes (not trainers)

For certain specified jobs and in poor weather conditions Band Hoodies and Band Cagoules may also be worn!

Do not travel in jackets as a rumpled jacket looks untidy; keep the jacket in a named cover when travelling.  If you get to a job and find that we are not wearing jackets please find somewhere to hang your jacket out of the way – there is normally space in the trailer for this.

Please do not eat and drink in your jacket – especially high-risk things like ice-cream!

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

Shoes need to be clean and polished – I know this is one thing I often forget!!

Please make sure that your jacket case is not lying around being an eyesore – either put it in your instrument case or hang it in the trailer or changing room.

 Please ensure that your instrument is clean and polished before a job, and that it – and you -are ready to play when the rest of the band is; waiting around for one player to wake up looks dreadful.

Help!

As Mike and Catherine are going to be unavailable for jobs from 4^th to 18^th July and again for 29^th August, we will have logistical problems getting all the gear to those jobs.  If you have a towbar or can fit stuff into your car, please let Dorothy know as soon as possible.  It would make a great difference, especially for those jobs where we have to take chairs!

easyfundraising.org.uk

This is one of the easiest possible ways of getting money for the band.  If you are shopping on line (anything from cat litter to holidays!) do it through this site.  Most online suppliers are registered with it and they have a really good directory of suppliers.  You order through the site and the suppliers give money to Swinton Band!  Something for nothing – what could be better.  At Christmas we received a cheque for £46.10 from them – so get shopping!

Smartie Tubes.

Anna has asked me to remind you that as well as the ordinary small Smartie tubes, she now has the big ones available.  You eat the contents and refill the tube with silver – then let her have it back.  What are you waiting for?

Fundraising

New ideas continue to be very welcome – especially if you are prepared to organise them!  We have had several very successful events but can’t afford to rest on our laurels, so get your thinking caps on!

Maggie and Suzanne have made some superb shopping bags, which have sold very well.  If you’d like to try making some they have the patterns available.  They are very easy to do with a sewing machine and strong fabric and they do seem to sell well so have a go!

Some Mothers do have ‘em!

Thanks to all those who sponsored David in his mad leap to earth! 

You will be glad to hear he survived and has raised a tidy sum for Cystic Fibrosis.  The total is not yet available as money is still coming in.

Malton White Star Band - Help wanted!

White Star Band is busy recruiting players but are very short at the moment.  Any help would be gratefully received.  If time hangs heavy on your hands and you fancy a blow, you will be VERY welcome at band practices.  These are at their Bandroom on Old Maltongate on Tueday and Thursday evenings at 7.30.  You will be made incredibly welcome!

They will also have various jobs on over the year, and Dorothy will have details of these and of what help is needed.  Please try and help them out if you are asked – they are a lovely bunch of people and have shown willing to help us out often over the years!

Minsthorpe Brass Band Workshop.

Just as last year, we have got sponsorship to enable any band member to attend this event free of charge.  So if you’d like to go let Dorothy know.  

Booking forms are not out yet, but now is the time to put it in your diary.  It is a really worthwhile and enjoyable day with excellent tuition and a chance to meet other bandspeople.