In what will be seen as a crushing blow to the hopes of the newly constituted Brass Band England's hopes of running a feasible British Brass Band Registry, it has been announced that from 1st January 2013, the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain will only accept registration cards from English competing bands issued by a new registry — Brass Band Players.

Major additions

In addition it has been revealed that the British Open, Butlins Mineworkers and All England Masters International Championships have agreed to work with the new registry body.

Own registry

Announcing the development, Philip Morris of Kapitol Promotions Ltd., which presents the National Championships, commented to 4BR: "It’s logical that the ‘National’ should operate its own registry, as was the case in the past."

He added: "When the new registry for the ‘National’ is operational, we will be establishing an advisory body comprising representatives of competing English bands, major competition promoters and the Regional Co-ordinator of the ‘National’, chaired by a director of Kapitol Promotions.

The advisory body will review the function of the new registry and we envisage that it will also lead discussion on a range of topics to include strengthening the level playing field of brass band contesting generally and the modernisation of the existing registration system.

Kapitol really feels that the time is well overdue for a fully representative body for English bands to influence the future development of the new registry, which could provide real benefits."

Wales and Scotland unaffected

He added: "I’d like to stress that the existing Welsh and Scottish registries will remain unaffected by the establishment of a new registry for English bands competing in the National series."

Kapitol really feels that the time is well overdue for a fully representative body for English bands to influence the future development of the new registry, which could provide real benefitsPhilip Morris

No extra cost

So that there is no extra cost to English bands, Philip Morris said that the new registry entitled, ‘Brass Band Players’, would replace existing registration cards with new ones displaying the expiry date of the old cards.

Major contest approval

In a further blow to the BBE’s hopes of running their own registration system, it was revealed that the new Brass Band Players registration cards will also be accepted by the British Open Championships, Butlin’s Mineworkers Open National Brass Band Festival and the All-England Masters International Championship, with Philip Morris adding that that he hoped other competitions would follow the lead of these major contests.

More information:

For more information, bands are advised to contact the full-time Registrar of Brass Band Players, Philip Rogers, on 01269 841127, who will also be available this weekend (22 and 23 September) at the National Finals in The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse, to offer advice.