News from SWBBA

Dave Farmer - Awarded recognition of 50 years’ service by SWBBA / Jun 2025

During their recent concert featuring “The Greatest Storytellers” at the Blakehay Theatre a member of Weston Brass was awarded a spotlight on service -50 years dedication to band and community by the South West Brass Band Association. John Woods on behalf of the association attended and presented Dave with the certificate and spoke of the associations work, and the contribution to Weston Brass by Dave.

Dave Farmer for over 50 years, is one of the stalwarts and characters of Weston Brass. Dave has played a variety of brass instruments for nearly 20 years the band currently know him as lead percussion player. He is a natural drummer and honed his craft while playing with various rock bands in the local area and has supported many famous bands that have played in Weston.

Dave served on the committee for many years and was chairman for over 15 years in two stints.

Dave is a true and passionate bandsman, being one of the best attendees at concerts, rehearsals, and social functions Dave’s always ready with a witty retort or funny story if persuaded, often hear him rooting around in boxes to find a long-lost whistle or other percussive instrument, sometimes in a most inopportune moment.

Weston Brass made Dave a Life Member 12 years ago to honour the contribution he has made so are so pleased that SWBBA too are rewarding Dave’s support to Weston Brass.

CANCELLED - Entertaining Brass / Apr 2025

The SWBBA Committee are extremely disappointed in having to cancel this event due to lack of entries. With only two bands signed up, the event is simply not viable. Thank you to the bands who did enter.

We will now be concentrating on the Annual Championships (to be held on 1st November) and are optimistic this will attract a better entry.

25th Mid-Winter Workshop - February 2025 / Feb 2025

Yet again we can report another successful annual event! The Mid-Winter Workshop took place at West Buckland school over the weekend (15th/16th February 2025) and was attended by around 70 players from all around the South West. Expert tutors Chris Binns, Stephanie Binns and Adam Bokaris took the players through their paces and a great time was had by all. Our huge thanks to them!

Pictured is Chris conducting the massed band, and SWBBA Chairman Ray Kingdon with event sponsors Co-Op Funeral Services representative David Boorer, and Freya Yelland from St Austell Band. Freya was presented with the Mervyn Sweet Trophy for the Most Improved Player of the Weekend, chosen by the tutors.

Workshop Success - November 2024 / Nov 2024

Despite the wet and windy weather outside, SWBBA's Baritone & Euphonium Workshop on 23rd November 2024 couldn't have gone better today! Huge thanks to Glyn Williams for facing the awful weather on our behalf to deliver a day of exceptional tutoring. Blowing our own trumpets, the feedback from everyone was 100% positive, wth comments such as ' ... a very enjoyable day', '...again please!', '...a great day, thank you', '... my first SWBBA workshop - I learned a lot and will definitely attend another one', ...really good value - highly recommend to friends'. What more can we say?

Again, we thank the Sidmouth Town Band for their help and generosity to use their band room, and also the unsung heros of the kitchen, Gwen Kingdon (ably assisted by Pam Gibbons and Janet Marshall) for keeping us hydrated throughout the day with teas and coffees.

76th SWBBA Championships - Torquay 2nd November 2024 / Oct 2024

The Annual Championships promoted by SWBBA - the 76th event in its history - take place at the Riviera International Centre Torquay very soon!

Adjudicator confirmed

Steve Pritchard-Jones is the adjudicator for the day - bringing a wealth of experience in adjudicating all sections.

Said John Woods, Vice Chair of SWBBA: “We are delighted to be welcoming everyone to the Riviera Conference Centre in Torquay once again following the success of our celebratory 75th Annual Championship event”.

An entry of 14 bands in the Open section is an excellent outcome. With a total entry of 27 performances, we are looking forward to a wide range of music chosen by the bands across the 6 sections all being own choice including the Training band section where we have three entries - an increase of 50% on last year. This will certainly be one of the days many highlights.

We welcome St Austell Youth to the Youth section and extend our congratulations to their parent band St Austell Town on becoming National Section Two winners for 2024 at Cheltenham very recently.

The excellent facilities of the RIC for competing bands supporters’ traders and, audiences alike are a platform for the enjoyment of live brass band music. Our President Leonard Adams will be with us throughout the day and is looking forward to presenting trophies to the winning bands.

So much to look forward to with our Euphonium/Baritone training workshops in November. This event lead by Glyn Williams from the world-famous Cory band will be held on Saturday 23rd November 2023 from 10am to 5pm at St Francis Church Hall, Woolbrook Road, Sidmouth, still a handful of places left - see our Training page for further details.

Open

• Chalford
• City of Cardiff Melingriffith (M1) Band
• Filton Concert Brass
• Forest of Dean Brass
• Glastonbury Brass
• Helston Town Band
• Hyde Band
• Lanner and District Silver Band
• Lympstone Band
• Plymouth City Brass
• Porthleven Town Band
• Roche Brass
• Sidmouth Town Band
• Weston Brass

Section Two

• Markham and District
• Porthleven Town Band
• South Molton Town

Section Three

• Exeter Railway Band
• Pendennis Brass
• Saltash Town Band
• South Molton Town

Section Four

• Bay Brass
• Plymouth City Brass Academy Band

Youth

• St Austell Youth Band

Training

• Launceston Training Band
• Plymouth City Brass Academy Band
• Porthleven Training Band

General tickets will be available on contest day (cash or card) and refreshment and trade stands available all day in the Arena. Doors open at 9am with first scheduled performance in Section 4 commencing at 9.30am.