Present P Nightingale (Chairman), G Fairfax, P Foss, J Goatcher, C Fairfax
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.
This Newsletter contains information concerning the forthcoming Lord Mayor’s Show and an urgent request for details of intending participants. There is also an excellent offer of uniforms for sale from Ally McDonald of Kellswater Band.
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
This Newsletter contains details of our new meeting venue and a change of date for one of the meetings. Please ensure, if you are the recipient for your Corps, that everyone knows about the changes. This is very short notice, but arrangements to use Kneller Hall have only just been finalised
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.