2012 Music Meetings

Saturday 7 April

Saturday 9 June (includes AGM)

Saturday 8 September

Sunday 28 October ( Dress Rehearsal for Lord Mayior’s Show)

You will have noticed that fewer meetings have been arranged for this year.  Although we receive a very favourable rate at Kneller Hall, it is still a significant cost.  At one meeting last year , only 13 people turned up, which made it a very expensive meeting per head.  The Committee have decided therefore to reduce the number of meetings in the hope that a smaller programme will be better attended.  Please make every effort to attend something in 2012, and please consider offering a lift to someone who might attend given such assistance.   If any member finds themself in this position, please let the Committee know and we will do our best to find a lift for you.

15 Coy SW London ACF Corps of Drums

This is a new Corporate Member of the Society: Company Commander Garry Jupp would welcome anyone who could assist the Corps of Drums at their Thursday evening practice at Kingston. Such helpers would not be required to enrol as ACF Instructors.  If you are interested, please contact Garry on

Gazzajupp@ hotmail.co.uk    or

Maj Garry Jupp, 15 Coy Commander, SW London ACF, Flat 3 TA Centre,Surbiton Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT1 2NB

Langley School CCF

Maj Chris Cooper, Contingent Commander, is presently setting up a Corps of Drums and is looking for a military drum instructor, on Monday afternoons

between 1440 and 1640 hrs.  Payment is £25 per hour plus travel expenses.  Langley School is situated south east of Norwich – see the link  http://www.langleyschool.co.uk/locationmap.   If you can help, please contact Maj Cooper on ccooper@langleyschool.co.uk

Drum Major/Drum Tutor

Required by the Farnborough Branch of the Royal British Legion, who are in the throes of setting up a Corps of Drums.  Practice sessions are from 1000until 1200 hrs every Sunday.  Please contact Vice Chairman Kevin Tomkins on  kevin@kayjaytee.co.uk

7^th Bn The Hampshire Regiment

Researcher Ian Taylor needs to locate a colour photograph of a drum (side, tenor or bass) in the emblazon of the 7^th Bn The Hampshire Regiment, which incorporates the “Rufus Stirrup” or “Dog Gauge”.  This predates the disbandment of the Bn in 1946 and its reformation in 1947 as 52A SL/LAA ((7^th Royal Hampshires) RA TA.  Look mout for Ian’s article in the next Drummers Call.  In the meantime, if you can help him with a photograph, please contact him on ian.p.b.taylor@btinternet.com

Timpani required

Kellswater Flute Band are on the lookout for secondhand timpani (preferably pedal type, 26” and 29”).  If you can help, please contact Alistair Macdonald on ally.mcdonald@btinternet.com

Skipton RBL Band

For those of you visiting or living in the Skipton area, Skipton RBL Band have a full programme of events throughout 2012, the earliest ones being  Skipton Waterways Festival, Saturday 5 May; Yorks Air Museum on Saturday 26 May; Diamond Jubilee Day, High Street, Skipton on Sunday 3 June.  Further details from Tim Clarke on tim.clarkinet@yahoo.co.uk

Scarlet and Gold Concerts

Thursday 15 and Friday 16 November, at the Central Hall, Westminster, featuring the massed bands of 7 regiments of the Household Division.  Tickets from the Central Hall Ticket Office (0844 8717605) or from www.atgtickets.com  If you are interested, don’t delay as tickets are likely to go quickly.

Subs

These are now due for 2012.  Please remit as soon as possible if you do not pay by standing order.  If you would like to set up a Bankers Order for future payments, you can obtain a form from the website of from me.

Postage costs are mounting relentlessly, so if you receive this Newsletter in paper form but have email, please let me have your email address for future issues.

Apologies: P.Foss, M.Hall

Minutes of Previous Committee Meeting held 17 Oct 2010, and short meeting of 16 Oct 2011 : accepted

Music for LMS 2012:PN confirmed that these would be Punjab, MacGregor fraeGreenock, and The Londoner.  PF to liaise with Syston and Chesham concerning the new bugle march.  Bass Drummers:Cinque Ports will provide one for 2012; at least one more needs to be identified, as at least 2 are required for such a parade.

GF pointed out that Chesham provide buglers and drummers, but we should get them to send flute players as well – members would be able to lend them flutes for the day.  JG had seen the military tattoo at Earlscourt which had featured youth corps and felt that a simpler repertoire might  help attract more youth participation.  This needs to be followed up.

Action: P Nightingale, P Foss, G Fairfax 

Muster:  PN proposed that the format should be a lesson followed by one corps providing a display – GF felt that the event should included and audience. The Committee were of the opinion that 2012 is not feasible, but that we should focus on doing one for 2013.  Also the date identified for 2011 would have clashed with other events, so this will need to be looked at.  GF suggested sounding out the Corps available.

Action: P Nightingale 

Society Personality of the Year: GF suggested an article in DC to publicise the award and to set out the requirements.  PN will begin drafting the ground rules.  PN suggested having a shield with all previous winners names on as well as a presentation to the individual recipient.

Action : P Nightingale 

The Richard Holmes Award:    GF will contact Mrs Holmes to make sure she is happy about our doing it.  The Committee felt the award should go to a young person who has contributed, or to an improved person (not necessarily a young person)

Action: G Fairfax

Attracting youth: Need to get schools and cadet groups involved.  GF reminded Committee that JG had already stressed the need for a simpler repertoire – the young people need to be able to join in.  GF informed the Committee that we have has 2 offers of masterclasses from senior army musicians .  PN undertook to follow up all the Corps participating in the Earlscourt event.

Action: P Nightingale 

Leaflet : It was decided to leave this in abeyance for the time being

 President: PN suggested asking the membership for suggestions.  Possible candidates were previous Commandants at Kneller Hall.  JG suggested alternating a high profile incumbent with a low profile one.  PN wondered whether it should be a fixed term presidency.  PH has a contact who may  be suitable and will find out more.   GF suggested that PN seeks the views of PSW.  GF expressed concern that the army make no contribution to the Society

Action: P Nightingale, P Hart

Treasurer’s comments: Although not required to produce a report for this meeting, JG mentioned that PF had requested funds to help meet the cost of attending the LMS with his Corps and had agreed to absorb some of the cost as the ringfenced youth money has now been exhausted,  PN felt that the business of reimbursement should be discussed thoroughly at a full Committee Meeting and Corps need to be aware hat the youth money is no more. JG suggested bringing before the AGM the possibility of putting a sum aside for designated purposes.    GF enquired about the state of the Society finances.  JG explained that  on present levels of income, 1 issue of DC per year was sustainable, while 2 would deplete the funds.  Committee felt that   we need to continue to produce 2 issues per year.

Drummers Call:  PH raised the problem of advertisements in DC: in the issue about to be distributed, more advertising space was requested than was available.  PH was concerned that we do not incorporate too much advertising in an issue and felt that advertising should be restricted to one page per issue.  The Committee was of a mind that we do not become a vehicle for advertisers, when the purpose of DC is to inform and entertain its members.  PH also felt that the charge we make for advertisements is too low.  PN suggested incorporating advertisement material as flyers, to be financed completely by the advertiser.  JG felt that there was probably money owing from past advertisers and will look into who still owes us money.

Action: J Goatcher

As this was a intended to be a brief meeting to address some specific issues, minutes of the

last meeting were held over to be discussed next full Committee Meeting

1.  P Nightingale proposed that a one-off payment of £200 is made to Jon Emerson in

recognition of his work on the website.                                                                                  Agreed

2.  Because of the cost and the previous low attendance, G Fairfax proposed cutting down the

number of music meetings held at Kneller Hall to 4 per year: these would include the LMS

preparation.                                                                                                                                  Agreed

P Nightingale undertook to put together a programme for 2012 and circulate this to the

Committee                                                                                                            Action: P Nightingale

3.  G Fairfax has had a sword mounted and it is now ready to be awarded as the Richard

Holmes Award.  It is expected that it will be awarded to a Corps rather than an individual.  All

the Committee members are asked to define the criteria for making the Award, ready for

discussion at a future Committee Meeting.                                                                         Action: All

4.  J Goatcher expressed concern at the Society’s apparent inability to attract young people.

During the ensuing discussion, all present provided examples of attempts to support and

attract young people.  P Foss works regularly with schools in the Liverpool area, but they

have not joined the Society.  G and C Fairfax had been to St Dunstans College and left

membership application forms; P Nightingale described the situation where he had helped at

Felstead School, but they had shown no inclination to join the Society; J Goatcher is in

contact with Whitgift, who are members, although they no longer attend the Society Music

Meetings.  P Nightingale suggested that a way forward with schools who approach us for help

is for it to be a condition that they join the Society and that training is provided for them at our

Music Meetings.

Lord Mayor’s Show Sat. 12 November Band Instructions

Assembly area is as previously : The Rotunda, West Smithfield, London EC1.  All personnel to arrive no later than 0900 hrs.  Allow plenty of time for congestion will build up early as roads are closed.  Dedicated transport must display a Parking Permit (see item below). You should aim to park in Smithfield Market.  Tea and buns and toilets are available at the entrance to the Rotunda, but you should first report to the Corps of Drums Society assembly point so that the Drum Major can organise the Corps appropriately. Once this is done, there will be time for drinks before we step off.  While we are in the Rotunda, there must be No Playing of instruments.

Lord Mayor’s Shoe Sat November 12 Security Details

Please let me have as a priority (by 16 September) the following :

• Names of members of your Corps who will be attending and the instrument they play
• Individual members attending need to notify me of the same
• Registration number and make of your vehicle – we need to share vehicles where possible ; up to now we have been issued with  the passes we have asked for, but this might change, so if you are using a private car, make sure it is full.  If you can travel by public transport you should do so.
• If you require a vegetarian packed lunch, let me know.

Lord Mayor’s Show Rehearsals

These will be at Kneller Hall, 16 and 30 October.  Please note that 30 October will be a dress rehearsal

Music Meeting

This will be at Kneller Hall on Sunday 18 September, commencing at 1030 hrs.  Please bring refreshments as there is nowhere on site to obtain it.  There is a pub across the road from the Hall.

Uniforms for Sale

Kellswater Flute Band have 30 uniforms to sell together with hate (male and female versions).  They are asking £750 ono plus delivery costs.  Enquiries please to

Alistair McDonald on  07801327947  or  ally.mcdonald@btinternet.com

Kneller Hall

This will be our meeting venue for the forseeable future. Because it is a military location, we will need to supply them with names and vehicle details of those present.  If you intend to be at the next and future meetings,  please let Peter Nightingale know in advance for each meeting so that he can provide the information to Kneller Hall.

There will be no refreshment  facilities available, so please bring drinks and a packed lunch.  There is a pub across the road for those who wish to use it.

Royal Military School of Music,  Kneller Hall,  Kneller Road,  Twickenham TW2 7DU

By Road: M25 J12,  M3 East,  A316 Country Way, Great Chertsey Road, Chertsey Road,  B361 Whitton Road, Kneller Road

By Rail: Whitton Railway Station, then walk (see a streetmap)

By Underground : Hounslow Central, then walk (see a streetmap)

If you have any problems on the day, Peter Nightingale will be contactable on

07961815710

Meeting dates

Our first meeting at Kneller Hall will be Saturday 16 July, commencing at 1030 hours.  Please let Peter Nightingale have your vehicle details, and names of passengers as soon as you receive this Newsletter.

Owing to there being a prior booking at Kneller Hall, the meeting scheduled for Saturday 17 September has now been changed to Sunday 18 September.

Lord Mayors Show rehearsals will be as previously announced : 16 and 30 October, with the 30 October being a dress rehearsal.

Lord Mayor’s Show

Please ensure that you attend the two rehearsals for the Lord Mayor’s Show. If this is a problem, please contact Drum Major Geoff Fairfax.

The Muffled Drum

Sadly we have to announce the death of member Chris Collins, ex Grenadier and a fine artist who emblazoned the Army’s drums for a considerable period of time.  An appreciation of his life and work will appear in a future Drummers Call.  Dave Clark, of Massachusetts, USA has died – Dave was a very longstanding member of the Society and supporter of British Military music.

Annual General Meeting 2011

Below is a summary of the meeting: full minutes appear on the Society website.  Anyone who cannot access the website, and would like a complete set of minutes, please let me know.

The meeting took place at the Scout Hall, Chesham, home base of the Chesham All Girls Band.  We were made very welcome by Mr and Mrs Tim Smith, who provided a superb lunch.

The meeting began with a minute’s silence for our President Brig Professor Richard Holmes, who had recently passed away.

Minutes of AGM 2010 were adopted, as was the Treasurers Report. The Chairman provided a resume of the past yearand announced the new members of the Society. He appealed for contributions to Drummers Call.

The existing Committee was re-elected, there being no others standing for election: Committee comprises                                                         Chairman: Peter Nightingale

Treasurer: James Goatcher

Secretary : Christine Fairfax

Senior Parade Drum Major : Geoff Fairfax

Training and Development : Mike Hall

Music and Training : Peter Foss

Editor, Drummers Call : Peter Hart

Clifford Chandler was appointed Auditor

Richard Holmes Award

It is intended to make an annual award to a Corps in which youth is well represented and which has made improvements/ acheivements/expansion in the past year.  More details will follow in due course, but you may wish to begin thinking about the submission you will make for your Corps should you wish it to be considered.  The successful Corps will be able to display the Award for one year.

Society President

Following the death of Richard Holmes, the Society is currently without a President.  The Committee will be considering this in due course.

Kneller Hall, Kneller Road

Twickenham, TW2 7DU

Directions

Road;

M25                 Jct 12

M3                   East

A316        Country Way, Great Chertsey Road, Chertsey Road

B361        Whitton Road, Kneller Road

Rail;

Whitton Railway Station (It is a walk to the venue, see street map)

Underground;

Hounslow Central (It is a walk to the venue, see street map)

Facilities;

There are no food facilities, please bring a packed lunch if required.

There is a Public house across the road from the guardroom, The Duke of Cambridge.

I will be contactable on my mobile, Peter Nightingale// Mob. 07961815710

At the present time we are having problems finding a venue for our first meeting we have tried a number of places but they were either unsuitable or not open at the weekends. If there is anywhere that you may know about please let us know. Lets try and keep it within the M25.

We will keep on trying.

Regards
Peter Nightingale

The Chairman

31 members in attendance

1. Apologies for Absence; P Hart

2.Minutes of AGM held 8 May 2009; Adoption proposed by T Dacombe, seconded G Fairfax. Passed nem con.

3. Treasurer’s Report; (in separate document) Adoption proposed P Foss, seconded A Bransby. Passed nem con.

4. Chairman’s Report;

P Nightingale reviewed the Society’s year; Another good one.

• LMS 2009; Sorry about the RAIN. Cutler’s Sword had been presented to Cpl A Oxley 3rd Bttn the Yorkshire Regiment.

• LMS Liverpool; 20 Members of the Society attended.

• New members; Felstead School, J Emerson, B Mullan, D Oliver, G green, A McDonald, F Dean, Royal British Legion  North Wiltshire Corps of drums. Some members had rejoined – M Davis, M Lidinson, I Smart.

• Drummers Call; Appeal for articles.

• Updated Web Page; Designers of the new website would be available later in the day to demonstrate the system. Thanks to Reg Davis, Mike Boxall, Paul Vickers. Appeal for Webmaster. Need to establish links to member Corps of Drums

• LMS 2010 Rehearsals; Emphasis on the need to attend the designated rehearsals.

• International Military Music Society Membership; This was a good link for both the Society and IMMS. Proposed that the Society becomes a member. Proposer B Knight, seconder P Williams. Passed nem con.

• Next year and further into the future; We should be looking at a foreign event in Europe or even America.

• Thanks to the Committee for all their help and to the members for their support.

5. Election of officers; During the Chairman’s report the membership voted in the existing Committee, who had all indicated their willingness to stand again:

Chairman : Peter Nightingale

Treasurer : James Goatcher

Secretary : Christine Fairfax

Training and Development : Mike Hall

Editor, Drummers Call : Peter Hart

Senior Parade Drum Major : Geoff Fairfax

Music and training : Peter Foss

The re-election of the Committee was proposed by R davenport, seconded by J Leigh and adopted nem con.

6. Appointment of auditors; This was done during the Chairman’s report. J Goatcher suggested Clifford Chandler. Mr Chandler ‘s appointment was proposed by G Fairfax and seconded by A Bransby and adopted nem con.

7. Other Business;

R Davenport enquired about the Society’s relationship with Corps in the locality of Woolwich. Col. Neville and the ACF were mentioned, but the point was made that there was little liaison between the ACF and the Society. G Fairfax mentioned that A. Casey was likely to be interested in joining the Society.

Meeting Concluded