*
banner

BFBB help in Stalham future

The BFBB help Stalham Brass towards a youth inspired future.

Stalham Training Band
 

Stalham Brass Band in North Norfolk is facing a wonderful future thanks to the award of two £10,000 grants.

Grants

With the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on the distant horizon the band’s enterprising Musical Director, Dr Tim Thirst MBE, set about a bold new plan to create the ‘Stalham Training Band fit to perform for The Queen’.

Tim told 4BR: "I knew it would take hard work and about £35,000 of funding to firmly establish a new Stalham Training Band with up to 50 new recruits."

Help

With the active help of the British Federation of Brass Bands and their Liaison Officer Terry Luddington, the band initially gained £1,000 from the Norman Jones Trust Fund, with a further £29,600 raised through over 40 applications, including £10,000 from the Norwich Town Close Estate Charity and £10,000 from Grants for the Arts.

I knew it would take hard work and about £35,000 of funding to firmly establish a new Stalham Training Band with up to 50 new recruitsMD, Tim Thirst MBE

Success

The amazing success has seen over 50 new recruits join the free training scheme which has provided innovative teaching and co-operation from a variety of musical sources including the Corps of Army Music.

The initial time scale of three years has been designed to eventually become a rolling programme for 8 –16 year olds in the area with over a hundred participants.

Great opportunities

Terry Luddington of the BFBB told 4BR: "We believe putting Brass Bands back into our local communities can provide some great opportunities for improving community cohesion.

We look forward to monitoring the progress of the Stalham Brass Band training programme and see how we can further develop and replicate the best practice results in other rural communities around the country."

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Syndey

Report & Results: 2025 Yamaha Australian National Band Championships

April 20 • Sydney City becomes the inaugural Premier Championships of Australia as senior National titles head to Footscray-Yarraville City, Cairns Brass No. 1, Wonthaggi Citizensand City of Ballarat Municipal Brass.


Wobplay

Wobplay offers global opportunities at Euros

April 19 • There will be plenty of advertising opportunities for businesses as part of the comprehensive weekend of live-broadcast action from the European Championships in Stavanger.


Russell Gray

Gray to host double conducting seminars

April 19 • Aspiring conductors can enjoy the opportunity to work alongside Russell Gray in Scotland and Norway next month as he hosts his Conducting Seminars in Bathgate and Askoy.


Siusa

Jena pride at Sousa inclusion

April 19 • Jose Sousa will become the fifth young player from the Jena Brass Band Centre in Germany to represent the nation as part of the European Youth Brass Band.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Newstead Brass - St George's Day Celebration

Sunday 27 April • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8LA


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Saturday 10 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Chinnor Silver

April 22 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are recommencing rehearsals on 28th Monday at 11am in our bandroom and we would love you to join us.. We welcome players of all abilities who just fancy a friendly fun blow with cake and coffee thrown in.. Its all free so join us.


Linthwaite Band

April 21 • Linthwaite Band is a 4th section contesting Band , with a busy Summer of engagements coming up, and are looking to complete our friendly team, with a back row 2nd cornet player, and are keen to fill the position as soon as possible.


Chinnor Silver

April 21 • Required Percussion and Bass players (Eb or Bb). We are a friendly and ambitious band and have successfully qualified for the second section national finals and also earned promotion to the 1st section in 2026. Come along and help complete our happy team


Ian Porthouse


Cornet soloist, clinician, conductor and adjudicator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd