Comments ~ 2009: June

The joys of the contesting scene - from Whit Friday to the English Nationals and a bit more besides...

No evidence against speeding Brighouse

Further to the comments of Mr Allison in regard to the Brighouse & Rastrick Band on 4barsrest, I would like to clarify the items you mentioned in your letter, as B&R have worked very hard to gain a fine reputation which can so easily be tarnished.

There is no evidence that at any point that the coach we were travelling in was speeding or that passengers were ‘egging on’ the driver, only offering directions to the next village where needed. 

I would like to state that the Band makes every effort to uphold the high standards expected in both concerts and contests. Our adherence to the rules is done with respect to fair play and in trying to maintain the very best spirit of the Whit Friday event. The Band endeavour to behave in the correct traditions of banding at all levels, enjoying the experience and putting in as much effort as everyone else. 

Ask ANY of the organisers in the villages we visit!!! 

We have never ‘ridden rough shod’ over anyone and are very proud of the fact that we have taken part in the Whit Friday event for many years in support of the best traditions of the evening. 

It was at Delph last year, in fact, that some of our band members made contact with Boobs & Brass to forge a relationship that culminated in a superb joint fundraising concert event; such is the camaraderie of the evening. That partnership is ongoing with a further concert planned later on this year.

If there is a queue to play, we ALWAYS queue (or move on if it is decided that is the best option). If we are told a venue is closed, it’s closed!

I would like to finish by saying that Brighouse & Rastrick Band are exceptionally proud of our history and ask that in future, if anyone at all has any difficulty with the band, they should contact the band or its officials for clarification as a first option. 

Mike Norton
Chairman
Brighouse & Rastrick Band 

Foul play - a simple solution

Another Whit Friday has past and we hear the usual accusations of the 'foul-play' by some of our 'top' bands, and one band in particular.

I offer a simple solution:

If the motives of the band/bands concerned are:

a) To get to as many venues as possible, so the public can see the World-famous Band X
OR
b) wanting to please the organisers, who want the top bands to play at their venue, might I suggest that they are allowed to be 'bumped' forward on the agreement that any winnings are given to a chosen charity. 

Without mentioning band names, it is fair to say that those who the acqusations are levelled at enjoy significant sponsorship and/or charge hefty concert fees. 

I am sure that they would get a warm glow knowing that their efforts in the wind and rain were going towards their local cancer charity, children's hospital or to one of the many fundraising causes that Whit Friday bands appear in aid of, rather than filling the player's pockets or their, already bursting, band coffers.

If not, it will prove that the accused bands treat this as a money-making exercise only, and if they wish to 'push-in' on this basis, they should expect the appropriate response!

Simon Preshom 

Thanks from the USA

On behalf of the Chicago Brass Band I'd like to thank everyone (performers and audiences) who gave us such a warm welcome at the 2009 Whit Friday marches.  

We encountered more than a few who were pleasantly surprised that we had travelled so far to participate.  We all had a fantastic time, and were received enthusiastically everywhere we played.  

The band were especially happy to get a 9th and 10th place for two of our performances, and were impressed by the level of organisation.  The damp evening did nothing to quell our enthusiasm for the event, and we are also grateful to Kidlington Concert Brass who made our visit possible.  

We also had a very successful joint concert performance with KCB on Saturday evening after we had all dried out and look forward to continuing this wonderful relationship.
 
Many congratulations to all who were present to enjoy this unique event.
 
Colin Holman
Chicago Brass Band 

Thanks from a judge too... 

I have just adjudicated at the Greenacres (Saddleworth) Whit March Contest.

First of all I must congratulate the organizers for a most efficiently run contest. 

I have judged around as dozen of the Whit contests and this one has got to be the best run that I have done. I must also congratulate each & every band that took part.
 
There were no losers here - they all beat the very nasty weather. In nearly 50 years of being involved with the Whit Friday's, I have never seen such horrendous weather.
 
This contest venue is a must for all bands next year!  

Brian Rostron  

Point of Order
 
Mr. Jim Own should be aware that the NWABBA has nothing to do with the organisation or running of the North West Regional Championships and, therefore, he has no need to consider a ritual burning of his NWABBA tie, awarded for 50 years service to brass banding, because he did not agree with the recent announcment by the Regional organisation on adjudicators.
 
He is well aware that the Regional event is organised by the North West Regional Brass Bands Championships Committee as, for a short time in the past, he was a member of the Regional Committee.
 
It is a shame that in this day and age people now choose to air their views on web-sites and never put anything in writing direct to the organisations concerned.   Not everyone is linked to the internet.
 
P.J. Bates
NWABBA Chairman 

Voting injustice
 
Jim Owen (of the Boarshurst Band)  and I have had a few differences of opinion in this column over the past two or three years.  

One subject on which we had words was whether there should be more than one adjudicator in the box at the northwest regional contest.  Mr Owen thought that there should be. 

In April 2007, I suggested that the majority of bands in the area seemed to be disinterested in the matter, and it turns out that I was right.  Of the 83 bands who were recently canvassed on the matter, 52 did not return their voting form.  At this point I must advise Mr Owen to sit down, because I am about to shock him.  

He is clearly very angry about what his regional committee have done - and I agree with him!
 
I could not be less interested in brass band contests, but I am very interested in democracy.  

Furthermore, I believe that voting is not a right, but a duty.  What the regional committee has done is to appropriate  the votes of those 52 bands who did not do their duty and cast them, illegitimately in my view, in favour of 'one adjudicator in the box'.
 
The committee will of course point out that they gave due notice about their intentions, but this is to ignore two things.  

Firstly, if a band is so apathetic that it cannot be bothered to return the ballot form, the possibility must be encompassed that it also failed to read the committee’s declaration of intent with regard to uncast votes.  And secondly, people fail to vote for a variety of reasons, one of which is as a protest against an authority.  

Under those circumstances, for the authority then to appropriate  the protesters’ votes without their express permission might be seen as adding insult to injury.
 
According to media reports, a protest vote of the type described above was being deployed in the recent local elections, when approximately 60% of the electorate did not vote.  

Had their votes been appropriated  to maintain the status quo, four local councils would still be Labour-controlled - and one of them would be Lancashire.  

I wonder if the general public of the northwest would have been happy with that?
 
The biggest losers in this episode are the 20 bands who voted for 'two adjudicators in the box'.  They did their duty, returned their voting forms and won the vote fair and square by 20 votes to 11.  By interpreting abstentions as votes for the status quo, those 20 bands have been disenfranchised.  

Democracy has been diminished by what looks very much like an abuse of power, no matter how well-intentioned the committee was.
 
It isn’t for me to say what should be done, but I hope someone more directly involved will recognise the injustice of the situation. 
  
Jim Yelland
Hinckley

English Nationals - one contest too many?

I have to agree with your editorial for June concerning the English National Contest. 

At a time when bands are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, why do bands needs another contest to go to?

Having been to the last couple of English National contests, it strikes me as a competition that has no purpose.

Why not revert to the tried and tested way of allowing the top English band at the National Finals go to the European – they have had to go through two contests to win through (something no other European band has to do) and it doesn’t involve the expense of competing at yet another contest for the honour.

Peter Hargreaves
Bristol 

Thanks from the judge

I had my first outing as an adjudicator at this year’s Whit Friday Marches at Denton.
 
I would like to say a public thank you to all the people involved in the event who made the day so memorable for me. I was treated like royalty throughout the day. Nothing was too much for them. I was thoroughly fed and watered and my every need was looked after.
 
This new experience was delightful and made the job of adjudicating much easier as I could concentrate on listening and trying to make my comments easier to read! Despite the pouring rain and the thunder, I had a most enjoyable time. 

I hope every other adjudicator had the same experience.
 
Mike Lyons 

Trophy walkabout

A Whit Friday trophy has gone "Walkabout" from Stalybridge Labour Club, it is the "Les Hine Memorial Trophy" it was never returned from which ever band received it last.  

Unfortunately the list of bands that it had been presented to has been destroyed, so there is no way of checking who had it last, unless some kindly soul can enlighten us.

We think it could possibly be a championship section band, and have contacted the said band, but the secretary said he was a new secretary and didn't know anything about it. 

We are asking if all bands can check their trophy cabinets and see if it is in there, and if so if they could contact Colin Hamilton on 0161 339 8736 and let him know it is "safe and well" and when it will be returned. 

Judith. A. Hamilton 

The Darker Side of the Whit Marches

Last night I was accompanying a Brass Band in the Saddleworth Marches and was sat in the courier seat of the coach.

I have often heard the rumours of the aggressive attitudes adopted by the “top bands” such as Dyke, Grimethorpe etc. in their quest for the prizes and Kudos of being the best. Stories of them riding roughshod over lesser bands and queue jumping are commonplace but I had never witnessed it until last night.

The coach I was in was travelling out of Diggle towards Dobcross on our way to Delph and we were approaching a mini roundabout where we were to turn right so had right of way from those travelling in the opposite direction. Our coach was signalling and had started to turn when in the distance I saw a Coach approaching at a speed higher than the limit. 

This vehicle clearly had no intention of slowing for the roundabout so our driver stopped and the other went careering past narrowly missing the front of our coach. The driver of that coach had a smirk on his face and appeared to be being urged on by the passengers who were gesticulating to him.

Had our driver not taken evasive action there would have been a serious accident with possible fatalities. The name, in neon lights on the other coach was “Brighouse & Rastrick” and were on their way to the Diggle contest.

I was outraged at this sort of behaviour at an event which is supposed to be a fun occasion where the taking part is paramount. Unfortunately I had no opportunity to remonstrate with them as our paths did not cross again during the evening. 

The win at all costs is wrong and brings the whole Banding world into disrepute

Ron Allinson
Halfway
Sheffield 

Wet Friday?

Can anyone tell me if this year was the wettest Whit Friday ever?

I have been coming here for over 30 years now and have never been so soaked as I was on Friday night.

Pauline Crossley 

Queue jumpers

Why is it that bands are allowed to queue jump at some Whit Friday venues.

I witnessed a number of so called ‘top bands’ making sure they played ahead of bands that had waited patiently to play.

Is this allowed, or is it part of the ‘win at all costs’ attitude that seems to becoming more commonplace at the contest nowadays?

James Cottingham 

Furious voter!

I am absolutely furious that an organisation as the NWABBA can actually consider an abstention i.e. non vote, be considered to be in favour of ANY particular way of thinking.  

I have been writing for years against the uneven playing fields that we here in the north west face rather than any other area championship.

What would this country be like if ALL non voters were considered to be a "vote for the status quo" ?  Labour would NEVER be ousted because apathy rules in any society.

I expect that the committee knew that apathy would prevail and that a large number would not return their voting slips, thereby consolidating their antique views and petty monetary considerations like "we cant afford 2 in the box" as quoted before.

There is NO WAY that a bands should be relegated or promoted be decided by just ONE MAN in ONE CONTEST!!

Those of us that did vote know about the costs involved and would GLADLY pay extra just to be given a fair crack at promotion.

Overturn this stupid vote NOW or shame on all at the NWABBA who allowed this to happen.

At Buxton I was given a nice NWBBA tie with my 50 years service award, so I will now contact all the tabloid press and have a ritual burning of the "flag" (tie), but I doubt that anyone would attend.

Jim Owen
Boarshurst Band 

London events

In response to John-David Bartoe's request for brass band concerts in London in July, Redbridge Brass, current London and Southern Counties champion band, will be performing in Kensington Gardens on Sunday 19th July at 2pm.
 
Admission is free and if you're lucky the weather will hold out!
 
Tim Morgan 

Thanks Dyke

On behalf of all members and parents of The Lions Youth Brass Band, I would like to thank Dr. Nicholas Childs and all those associated with The Black Dyke Band, for inviting us to be their guests at the brass festival on Sunday at Leeds, which was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Not only did they give us free tickets, but also covered our transport costs. During a time where money is at a premium for most families, for Black Dyke to offer us this great opportunity was a great gesture.

Most of my players had never heard The Black Dyke Band in concert before, and they were totally amazed by the playing and total professionalism of this fantastic group of
musicians.

At Lions we are very lucky to have David Thornton as our Musical Associate, and we have also had visits to the band from Brett Baker, Joe Cook, Richard Marshall, Movern Gilchrist and other members of Black Dyke. It was really good for my players to see and hear them playing, as it enhances everything they put over to them when they visit the band.

I know it is not always possible for bands to make these kinds of gestures, but when it is, it is really appreciated

Nigel Birch
Musical Director

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