Minutes of the meeting of the Suffolk Concert Band

held on Thursday 7th April 2005 at Goring Road, Ipswich

 

Those present were: Angela Bates, Mandy Chinery, Toby Pratt, Simon Pulham.

 

16.    Apologies for absence

These were received from Trevor Daldry, Sarah Scott, Mark Cheadle, Gordon Scopes and Roger Jones.

 

17.    Adoption of minutes of meeting held on Thursday 3rd March 2005

9) The music purchased from Faber is: New York, London Eye, Congestion Charge, Millennium Bridge and the Catskills all by Nigel Hess and Danceries by Kenneth Hesketh.

 

18.    Matters Arising from the meeting held on Thursday 3rd March 2005

4) With regards to the Treasurer situation, there have been three lines of enquiry.

- Simon has contacted Ian McKettney, an accountant and ex-member of the band.

- Jill Blofield has offered to take on the duties of the Treasurer; however, she does not want to be a trustee of the charity or a member of the committee.

- Pat Wood has said that Ray Wilson, an ex-member/chairman of the band, has offered to be Treasurer and would be willing to be a trustee and a member of the committee.

 

The committee recommend that we ask Ray Wilson to be Treasurer, Simon will write a letter to Ray and inform Deidre Gordon of the situation.

 

14.14) The concert at Suffolk College has been confirmed for Saturday 28th October.

 

6) Don Cheesewright has said that both the old tubas can go and he will donate a tuba to the band.

 

No one took up the offer of going to BASBWE this year so therefore the budget can be carried over into next year. Toby has expressed an interest in going next year.

 

19.    Chairman

19.1.   Proposed Amendments to Constitution

A draft copy of the amended constitution has been circulated to the committee. The aim was to tidy up the existing constitution and add some required byelaws. It was agreed that the Membership Secretary should remain an honorary officer. The committee recommended that the draft copy should be reviewed externally and will be passed on to Ian McKettney and James Smith.

 

Simon reported that he has spoken to Bernard Reader, who has expressed a continued interest to be involved with the band. Simon suggested that Bernard could compose an arrangement for the band for Trafalgar Day.

 

20.    Musical Director

Simon reported that both Roger and himself have been to Sheringham to see the Church and surrounding area.

 

Jane Walker expressed a concern about the small amount of space she had at the concert at Holy Trinity. Mandy will ask her to speak to Roger about it.

 

A number of members have said that they would like more notice of the programme for a concert and it was agreed that we should have two dedicated rehearsals before a concert so that the pieces have a more polished performance.

 

21.    Secretary

Correspondence this month:

·   Cultural Strategy Statement, Consultation Draft from Ipswich Borough Council.

·   A letter from the Ipswich Hospital Band about the renovation of St. Peters Church. Angela to write a letter to the hospital band expressing our interest in using St. Peters as a venue.

·   A letter from the Theatre Royal confirming our engagement at Gifford Hall and an update about the restoration appeal.

·   Monthly letter from Ipswich Arts Association.

 

Toby has expressed an interest in becoming the IAA representative for the band.

 

22.    Treasurer

No financial report has been received from the Treasurer.

 

Trevor reported via Angela that he has received a quote from Rosehill for the Tuba case of £190 including VAT.

Toby reported that the hosting for the website is up for renewal at a cost of £82.23 (inc. VAT). The committee recommend that we now pay for the hosting and work with Andrew Farthing to the make the website “official”. Simon thanked Andrew for his generosity and all his hard work on the website.

 

A coach has been provisionally booked for Sheringham at a cost of £250.00. The committee approve this expenditure.

 

Simon will contact Deidre for the band chequebook.

 

23.    Membership Secretary

Notable long absences have been from Bev and Vince Steensma and Marion Singleton.

 

24.    Librarian

Mandy passed on a request from the flute section to have a social day/master class and suggested Scheherazade as a suitable piece. Simon suggested that we invite a guest composer such as Guy Woolfenden.

 

It has been suggested that we invite John Whelton to be involved in one of the Trafalgar day events.

 

Angela suggested that we play Les Miserables as the band has not played it for a while.

 

25.    Concert Manager

Nothing to report.

 

26.    Publicity

Toby will start working on posters and flyers for the Spa Pavilion. Angela to find out how many are required.

 

27.    Rehearsal Venue

Simon has spoken to Val Sheppard at Holy Trinity about acoustics in the hall. The badminton court is still used so carpet is not an option. The Church would be open to having curtains put up. A deal has been suggested whereby the band would pay for the curtains and write the cost off over 5 years. If we were to leave Holy Trinity then they would owe us for the curtains.

 

28.    Recording

The last concert at Holy Trinity was recorded. It is important that any CD we do make is good; there have been concerns that the last concert was not good enough.

 

Simon suggested that we have three dedicated Sundays to produce a high quality recording.

 

29.    Forthcoming Events

29.1.      Sunday 10th April 2005 – Ardleigh Church

Nothing to report.

 

29.2.      Wednesday 27th April 2005 – Concert Series, Holy Trinity

Nothing to report.

 

29.3.      Saturday 14th May 2005 – Stradbroke Church

The Church requires a programme by 14th April.

 

29.4.      Wednesday 1st/Thursday 2nd June 2005 – The Suffolk Show

Angela needs to do the risk assessment and inform them of number of tickets required by 2nd May. Gordon needs to get band members to commit in case we require any deps. We need to remember to invoice the Suffolk Show this year.

 

29.5.      Sunday 12th June 2005 – Garden Party, Gifford Hall

Since this is a fundraising event we have agreed to £150+ for this engagement.

 

29.6.      Sunday 26th June 2005 – Barham Hall

Nothing to report.

 

29.7.      Sunday 10th July 2005 – Christchurch Park

Nothing to report.

 

29.8.      Saturday 16th July 2005 – Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

Nothing to report.

 

29.9.      Sunday 31st July 2005 – OCA

Confirm with Roger who is going to conduct.

 

29.10.   Saturday 10th September 2005 – Sheringham Church

We have agreed to £50 for this engagement.

 

29.11.   Sunday 9th October 2005 – Royal Hospital School

Nothing to report.

 

29.12.   Sunday 13th November 2005 – Remembrance Sunday, Shotley Church

Nothing to report.

 

29.13.      Other Events

Brian Annis has asked if we can play in a concert at Needham Community Centre to commemorate Trafalgar day on Friday 21st October. It has been suggested that we ask John Whelton to conduct.

 

Trevor has been in contact with an ex-army colleague who is the MD of the Nottinghamshire Police Band about a possible joint concert next year along with the Suffolk Police Choir. This would be a gala concert and therefore held at a venue such as Snape Maltings or Corn Exchange. The committee agreed that they would like to do this, Angela to investigate further.

 

Trevor has also been asked about a joint Christmas concert with the Woodbridge Salvation Army. The committee agreed that we would like to do this.

 

30.    Any Other Business

Pearl Gibson has asked if we can purchase a hardware case for the percussion, as the white boxes are very heavy. These cost approximately £100 each. We also require a replacement glockenspiel and a fourth timp.

 

Angela passed on an email from Andrew Farthing about the WASBE (the international version of BASBWE) International Conference to Singapore in July.

 

Meeting closed at 10.30pm

 

Date of Next Meeting

Thursday 5th May 2005

Venue – 82 Goring Road, Ipswich