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The Association's Awards and Prizes at The Butlins Mineworkers Contest 2008

It is with great pleasure that The Association of Band Traders offers congratulations to the recipients of their two sponsored awards and the lucky winner of the Brass Band Archives prize draw at the recent Butlins Mineworkers Open Brass Band Festival 2008.

The Youngest Player of the Day Award 2008
This was won by Bethan Burton from the Leicester Co-Operative Band.  At just 10 years old, Bethan was the youngest player to take to the stage at the contest.  In addition to a lovely presentation banner provided by TOR Banners, Bethan also received a certificate and a £50.00 music voucher from The Music Company (UK) Ltd.

The Bandsperson of the Year – Achievement Award 2008
This was unanimously awarded to Christine Gent for her dedication and commitment to founding and developing the Thoresby Youth Band.  Having started the band up just 7 years ago with only a handful of beginners, the group has built into a full strength contesting band with a healthy beginners class all of whom are taught by Christine.  Consistent contest wins are testament to the evolution of the group and Christine’s driving force behind the continued development of the band is gladly supported by the members.  Even when the youngsters grow up and move off to pastures new, it’s heart-warming to note that in no small part Christine’s influence has helped shape their futures – recent departures have seen three students going off to study music at university and another member joining the Royal Marines Band.

Clair Tomalin, Secretary of the Association commented: “It’s such a pleasure and very humbling to learn about the unsung heroes in the banding world.  By awarding this to Christine, The Association hopes to give her at least some of the praise and acknowledgment she deserves for all her hard work and drive with Thoresby Youth Band.  We also hope that it will encourage and inspire others to see what can be done with some determination and a passion for music.”

Brass Band Archive Prize Draw Winner
A prize draw was run at the Brass Band Archive Exhibition stand to help raise money to create a new website for the organisation.

With a brand new Euphonium having been donated by Virtuosi England Ltd as the prize, the response was very forthcoming.  The lucky ticket was purchased by Lucy Moore of Chesterfield , who was undoubtedly delighted to win the newly launched Regency VB-612S 4 Valve Euphonium.  The prize draw was a great success and the Brass Band Archive look well on their way to having a new website up and running by the end of March.

Association Supports Brass Band Archives

The Association of Band Traders is proud to announce their support of a new website initiative for the Brass Band Archives.  Being the initiative of Jon Handley of Handley Band Uniforms, the Butlins Mineworkers Brass Band Festival later this month will be used to as the launch event.  The Association is donating exhibition space to the archives organisation, enabling them to present some of the historically significant brass band memorabilia they have in their care.  The Brass Band Archives exhibition will also be running a special fund-raising prize draw throughout the weekend with a brand new euphonium, donated by Virtuosi Ltd, as the impressive prize.  The money raised will go towards the creation and future updating of a new website for the organisation created by Just Brass Media Services, together with future support and promotion of this extraordinary collection of brass banding heritage.

Bringing the Brass Band Archives into the 21^st Century
The Brass Band Archives is a voluntary organisation and for anyone who has visited the treasure-trove in Wigan , it forms an integral part of brass banding history.  For many, it is possible that you were unaware that the archives even existed, and this forms the basis of why it was felt that a website could be an ideal means of promoting the organisation and bringing more attention to its substantial collection of the movement’s heritage.

“The Brass Band Archives are unparalleled in their historical work and it is critical that such a collection of artefacts, memorabilia and items of notable brass band historical interest are protected for the future.  By providing the organisation with support in promoting its existence to a wider audience through the display stand at the contest and the new website in the future, we are hoping that the knock-on effects will derive more visitors to their premises, a wider support for their work and further donations of historical items from bands across the world.” commented Clair Tomalin, Secretary of The Association of Band Traders.

Win A Euphonium
Virtuosi England Ltd, a member of the Association of Band Traders, has shown its own passion and support for this organisation by offering a significant contribution of a brand new 4-Valve Euphonium for a prize-draw which is aimed at raising money for the creation and future support of the Brass Band Archives website (www.brassbandarchives.com). 

Tickets can be obtained throughout the weekend from the Brass Band Archives display stand, giving you the chance of winning a brand new VB-612S 4 Valve Euphonium from the new Regency Range being launched by Virtuosi England Ltd at the contest.  Both First Brass Ltd and JP Instruments will be exhibiting the new Regency and Classic Range , so you can find out more about these UK produced instruments, designed for use by a variety of levels from the promising student through to the most experienced of musicians, by visiting their trade stands.

Visit The Brass Band Archives At Butlins
The Brass Band Archives will have a dedicated stand at the Butlins contest in Skegness from Friday 18^th – Sunday 20^th.  There will be a display of memorabilia, programmes and trophies in the Association of Band Traders tradeshow area and Walter Ainscough, the caring custodian of the Brass Band Archives, will also be there to meet visitors and reminisce.  Everyone is invited to visit and enjoy a little taste of brass banding history! 

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Two New Awards at Butlins Mineworkers Contest 2008
(Nomination deadline 31st December 2007)

It is with great pleasure to announce that The Association of Band Traders is sponsoring two new awards at the Butlins Mineworkers Brass Band Festival which takes place in January 2008 in Skegness.  “Bandsperson of the Year Achievement Award” and “The Youngest Player of the Day Award” are both new additions to the collection of awards available at this ever popular contest weekend.

Bandsperson of the Year Achievement Award
The “Bandsperson of the Year – Achievement Award” aims to give recognition to any bandsperson playing in the contest who has offered a significant contribution to the banding movement.  There is no real restriction on the nature of the achievement, but it is hoped that nominations will be made for bandspeople who have helped develop and support the world of brass bands either through a personal achievement or their dedication to the movement.  This award will be selected from nominations submitted in writing using the official nomination form available here.  They need to arrive with the Clair Tomalin, Secretary of the Association by no later than 31st December 2007 and can be sent by post or via email.

This is an ideal opportunity for all competing bands to offer their own support to a band member who they feel has made a significant difference.  So, if there is a player who deserves recognition for going the extra mile or who has succeeded in the face of adversity, the Association of Band Traders wants to hear about them!  

Youngest Player of the Day Award
In line with the Association’s charitable focus, “The Youngest Player of the Day” award is designed to recognise, encourage and congratulate the youth element that is present in brass bands and which offers the future lifeblood of brass bands.  The award will include a special presentation banner donated by TOR Banners, a music voucher worth £50.00 donated by The Music Company and a commemorative certificate.  Any young contenders for this award should make their name, date of birth and band name known to the contest controllers at the time of registration and the award will be presented at the contest’s Saturday evening Awards Ceremony.

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A New Addition to the Association's Officers
Following their recent Annual General Meeting, The Association of Band Traders has appointed Clair Tomalin as their new Secretary (notably the first female to hold this position since the Association was founded over 30 years ago).  The decision came when Jon Handley relinquished the Secretary role after more than 3 years to concentrate on a newly created position as Trade Show Manager for the Association.

Clair Tomalin brings with her relevant experience from her longstanding involvement in the banding movement – as a player of 32 years (having only recently left the flugel chair of The Virtuosi GUS Band), as the founder of Just Select Ltd (website design and media services for brass musicians and related companies), as the originator of Just Brass (online supplier of brass band music, CDs and accessories) and latterly as the founder of the publishing house, The Music Company (UK) Ltd. 

Of her new role, Clair commented: “Jon Handley has left big shoes to fill, but with my personal experience of the Association and the banding movement as a whole, together with the support of the Association’s members during the transition, I hope to offer some significant benefits to the organisation.  Along with the administrative duties this role holds, there is also a necessary requirement to help raise the profile of the Association and make people more aware of how much the group and its members offer in support of the movement, over and above providing the vital trade shows that appear at the many contests around the country.  I think this is going to be an exciting year and I look forward making a positive difference to the Association.”

New Role for Tradeshow Management
Jon Handley of Handley Band Uniforms (band uniforms and accessories), TOR Banners (stand banners and commemorative pennants) and TOR Designs (corporate and leisurewear) has now taken on a newly created role for the Association of Band Traders which is dedicated to the management of the many trade shows the Association co-ordinates.  The demands of this role will pull on his very established event management skills and the members are delighted that his experience is being retained for this part of the Association’s function. 

Jon remarked: “It is noticeable how much the brass band competition circuit is increasing and with this growth comes a greater demand for the Association to provide tradeshows.  By isolating the Secretary’s role as a separate entity and creating the new position of Trade Show Manager, the Association hopes to make it possible for these demands to be met.  It’s obviously to the benefit of competition organisers and customers alike to have a trade show made up of reputable, professional companies and so I’m looking forward to the challenges this new dedicated role will offer.”

Familiar Faces
Chris Tudball of Band Supplies (retailer of instruments, music and accessories) continues his role as PR Officer for the Association and Clair will be working with him to promote further coverage of the Association and its members, generating greater public awareness and demonstrating the many ways this integral part of the banding movement offers its support.

Other elected offices saw both Roger Handley of Handley Band Uniforms and David Horsfield of Kirklees Music (music publisher and retailer) being re-elected as Chairman and Treasurer respectively.  Both gentlemen have reliably held these positions for many years and offer a broad knowledge of the banding movement and many years experience as members of the Association.  

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Chairman: Roger Handley  ::  Secretary: Clair Tomalin  ::  Treasurer: David Horsfield

Email: info@associationofbandtraders.co.uk
Web: www.associationofbandtraders.co.uk

:: Tel: 08700 111 556  ::
Post: PO Box 5684, Dunmow, Essex, CM6 3TR, UK