SWBBA are delighted to share the wonderful news announced in the 2024 New Year Honours List that Gwen Kingdon, wife of SWBBA Chairman, Ray Kingdon, has been awarded the BEM for Services to the Community in South Molton.
For decades, Gwen has been prolific in serving not only the community in and around South Molton but has also been a huge support to the SWBBA Committee. Her unwavering and continuing commitment to both Age Concern and the Sunshine Circle in the town has not gone unnoticed and the award is richly deserved. At all SWBBA events Gwen can be found either stewarding or rolling up her sleeves serving up refreshments. Her catering skills are legendary (you should try her apricot crumble!).
Ray tells us that he is immensely proud of all that Gwen does and for everything she is involved with in South Molton. Even when bringing up their two children, Sue and Martin, she could be found helping out at the play group and is now, with Ray, very hands-on with their four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Congratulations, Gwen, from all of us at SWBBA.
It was an enormous pleasure for SWBBA Chairman, Ray Kingdon, to present John Cane with a certificate to mark his incredible 70 years continuous membership of Chard Concert Brass at a function on 1st October.
Congratulations from us all, John. What a terrific milestone!
After 12 years in post of SWBBA President, Sue Richards, has decided to step down. Sue has been involved with brass bands for a very long time, following the career of her late husband, prolific composer, arranger, teacher and conductor, Goff Richards. SWBBA would like to thank Sue for her dedication and input to the Association and wish her all the very best for the future.
SWBBA are delighted to announce that Cornish legend, Leonard Adams, has accepted the offer to step into Sue’s shoes and becomes President with immediate effect. Leonard has been involved in brass bands from a very early age as a player, teacher and conductor, achieving much success on the concert and contest stage. He founded Trevada Music, a general retail business that specialised in in the requirements and needs of brass bands right up until his retirement in 2022 when the business closed. Trevada Music was a popular and much respected supplier of brass instruments, music and accessories, and is sorely missed.
Leonard has served as Chairman of both the Cornwall Youth Brass Band and the West of England Bandsman’s Festival. He is also honoured to serve as President of the Cornwall Brass Band Association.
SWBBA look forward to a long and fruitful alliance with him.
After being thwarted by Covid since 2020 South West Brass Band Association took the bold step of holding their 23rd Mid-Winter Brass Workshop at West Buckland School near Barnstaple in North Devon on February 11th and 12th.
The tutors were Christopher Binns (Trombone), Adam Bokaris (Euphonium) from the Grimethorpe Colliery Band of “Brassed Off” fame and Stephanie Binns (Flugel) from the famous Black Dyke Band.
A group of some 70 participants enjoyed an educational and musically enjoyable weekend superbly led by the very popular trio of tutors.
The participants came from all over the South West and as far afield as London.
The newly awarded “Mervyn Sweet Memorial Shield” for the best young musician over the weekend was presented to James Reynolds of Sidmouth Town Band. The shield had been given to the SWBBA in Mervyn’s memory by his family with the wish it was to be awarded to a young player. The winner was selected by the tutors and presented by Mr Mervyn Way (M Way & Son Transport Ltd) the main sponsor of the event.
Presentations were also made by SWBBA President Sue Richards to Keith Gibbs, SWBBA retiring Treasurer and John Croker, SWBBA retiring Minute Secretary, who between them clocked up decades of dedicated service to the Association.
After two days of hard work by the participants the weekend culminated in a short free concert featuring the music that had been worked on.
The catering was provided by Jenny Edwards and her helpers and was deemed to be first class.
Following the success of the weekend the Association are already making plans to stage another event in 2024.'
The South West Brass Band Association is very sad to announce the death of their former secretary Brian Elliott, a much respected figure in the South West of England brass band movement, who passed away on 25th November 2022.
After relocating to Devon with his family in 1971, Brian and his late wife (Joyce) became involved with their local band in Plymouth - Joyce as player and Brian secretary. Brian through a variety of roles became an ambassador for the Brass Band movement for the South West of England for over 45 years. He also served nationally for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain as section controller for 15 years before then becoming a vice-president.
Brian was an Executive member of the West of England BBA from 1998-2016 and held the role of Secretary from 2001-2013 and an Executive member of the South West BBA from 1972–2016 covering many different roles during that time.
Brian worked tirelessly for both Associations giving outstanding dedication to brass banding for many years and was a familiar, respected and much loved figure within the brass banding community in the South West of England and further afield. His passion and enthusiasm for developing and educating players of all ages resulted in annual events that continue to live on.
A funeral service for Brian will take place on Monday 19th December 2022 at 10.45am at Efford Crematorium, Plymouth. (The family have requested informal dress please).
The damp and dismal weather at the start to the day did not detract from the very successful return of SWBBA’s Annual Championships after a two-year absence.
We were very pleased to welcome twenty-two bands, who competed across five sections, at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay. The venue will also host the West of England Regional Championships in March 2023.
SWBBA Chairman Ray Kingdon said ‘After the committee’s extremely hard work in getting the contest off the ground again after the two-year gap, we were delighted at the outcome and thank all the bands who entered. We also extend our congratulations to bands and individuals who went home with trophies! We had a very entertaining day and listened to some cracking performances.’
Our grateful thanks go to the adjudicators, Nicholas Garman, Paul Norley and trainee adjudicator Stephanie Binns, to the staff at the Riviera Centre and of course to our stalwart team of stewards who worked tirelessly throughout the day.
We hope to see you all again next year.
Full results can be found on the Annual Championships page »
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