Welcome to the 3rd Davyhulme Scout & Guide Band Section.
Scout & Guide Band Report – April 2009 to March 2010
The 12 months from April 2009 to March 2010 proved to be another busy year in a long succession of ‘busy’ years! We keep thinking that the next will somehow be not quite as manic. Nevertheless I don’t think we’d want it any different.
Following this report is a monthly list of the activities showing the complete list and a breakdown showing the commitment shown in being a part of ‘Band.’
In April we started the year with representation at three different St George’s Day Parades; Urmston, Windsor (for the Corps of Drums) and Ladybrook Valley through our connections with band members from 1st Bramhall. After a weekend away at the District Camp, May was filled with performances at the County’s first ever Day of Excellence and the Northern Preview (on the same day) and then our Annual Band Inspection & Presentation Evening.
Through June and July the band appeared at 8 carnivals, 2 marching band contests, 3 open day/fetes and the annual parade through the streets of Chester for the Scout County of Cheshire. We were also delighted to play before the Kwahadi Indians on two separate occasions during their summer tour. The highlight, however, was Jeremy Dellar’s ‘Procession’ down Deansgate which the band were honoured to lead.
I was also lucky enough to attend one of HM The Queen’s Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace in July.
In August, Charlotte Unwin represented the Band, Group, District and County at the National Scout & Guide Symphony Orchestra.
In September we entered the newly launched TYMBA Solos contest with much success, appeared at the Gilwell Reunion and locally in Urmston/Flixton.
October is always a busy month as we host the Greater Manchester Marching Band Championships; this year we were delighted to welcome our friends from Guernsey who competed in two of the contests.
Into November the band once again appeared at the Remembrance Day Service to play Last Post and to lead the Parade, a tradition of which we are very proud. In the same month the Band competed at the TYMBA National Contest where it was awarded First Place in the Set Piece Contest and where Charlotte Unwin was crowned TYMBA Musician of the Year. To complete a very good day we were also informed that we had been selected to provide the band for the 2010 National St George’s Day Parade in Windsor .
We rounded the calendar year off with our usual appearances at the Trafford Centre playing Carols and festive music. Into 2010 and the first three months were dominated by preparations for the Windsor parade with extra music and marching practices held every week. We were invited to play in the Brinnington Lantern Parade and played for the Manchester Irish Festival Parade again. The 2010 TYMBA Solos heats were held in March and once again we were well represented with winners!
The Band continues to flourish with a membership of over 50 including approx 20 Leaders/Instructors, 20+ young people and then another group of youngsters in the Junior Section. Within the band are members from many other Scout Groups from both within and without the District .
We continue to be invited to play our music at prestigious events around the country to great acclaim. They are a talented, hard-working and loyal bunch and deserve all the credit they get!
Here’s to the next ‘busy’ year!
Dennis
What the Band did next – month-by-month
April
Urmston St George’s Day Parade
National St George’s Day Parade, Windsor – Corps of Drums
Ladybrook Valley District Scouts St. George's Day Parade
May
Urmston District Activity Camp, Ashworth Valley
Greater Manchester West – Day of Excellence
Northern Preview
Annual Band Inspection
June
Didsbury Carnival & Radcliffe Carnival
Chester Scout Sunday
Bury Lions Carnival
Altrincham Masonic Open Day
Carrington RUFC Open Day
South East of England TYMBA Band Contest
Opening of new Sainsbury’s Store, Urmston
Group AGM
Stretford Pageant
Halesowen Marching Band Contest including the British Armed Forces Day – Beating Retreat at Himley Hall
July
Altrincham Festival
Manchester International Festival presents Jeremy Deller’s Procession
Hazel Grove Carnival
St Paul ’s Parish Walks – Macclesfield
Flixton Junior School ’s Summer Fair
Rainow Church Fete
Stockport Carnival
Cancer Research – Relay for Life
UK Tour of the Kwahadi Indian Dancers - 2 performances – Urmston & Stockport
Band Master’s Invitation to a HM The Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
August
NSGSO – Charlotte Unwin
September
Gilwell Reunion – ‘Last Night at the Gilwell Proms’
Heritage Day, St Pauls, Sale
TYMBA Solos
In the Foundation Class - Woodwind Section the overall winner was Emily Yarwood.
In the Foundation Class - Lower Brass Section the overall winner was Natasha Gilpin.
In The TYMBA Class - Woodwind Section the overall winner was Charlotte Unwin .
Opening of the new Urmston Library
Michaelmas Fair at St Michael’s, Flixton
October
Band Workshop for 1st Flixton Rainbow Guides
Filming of Video for NoXcuse, Sheffield
A Grand Day Out – Girlguiding Stockport
Manchester Concert Contest
Manchester TYMBA Contest
Band Workshop for 1st Gorse Hill Cub Scouts
Band Workshop for 2nd Urmston Cub Scouts
Opening of Traditional Sweet Shop in Urmston
November
Band Workshop for 3rd Davyhulme Beaver Scouts
Remembrance Day Parade – Urmston
1st Bramhall Scout Group Centenary Church Parade
TYMBA Nationals – Musician of the Year
TYMBA Nationals – Musical Set Piece Contest
TYMBA National Marching Band Championships
Lostock Christmas Lights Switch On
Altrincham Market Christmas Event
Children Today – The Trafford Centre - £578
December
Carols by Candlelight, Linnet Clough
Trafford Centre x 5
Progress Lodge Christmas Meal
Band Christmas Party
Christ Church Christingle Service
Carols & Songs at The John Alker
January
1st Davyhulme Cub Pack – Band Workshop
March
Manchester Irish Festival Parade
TYMBA Solos
In the Intermediate Class - Woodwind Section the overall winner was Claire Irlam.
In the Intermediate Class - Lower Brass Section the overall winner was Natasha Gilpin.
In The TYMBA Class – Upper Brass Section the overall winner was Amy Gilpin
Brinnington Lantern Parade
Breakdown of Events over the last 12 months
Competitions 9 Camps 3
Social 1 Recruitment / Workshops 5
Static Display 22 Parade 17
Fund Raiser 9 Xmas 12
Other 3 Extra rehearsal for Competitions 22
and Windsor
Average of 4 Sectional meetings per month 12 x 4 = 48
Average of 4 Band Practices per month 12 x 4 = 48
Grand Total 199 out of 365 days