Milnrow Band Annual General Meeting

Milnrow Band at Rochdale Brass Band Festival: Championship Section

There was a full band room on Thursday evening, 16 March, when Milnrow Band held its Annual General Meeting.

In his address, the President, Ken Watts, said it was pleasing to note that besides playing, band members were now taking a very active part in the day to day running of the band, thus allowing the members of the executive to take ‘a back seat’ and provide general guidance.

Mr Watts said: “Band members achieved excellent results at Rochdale and Preston and in qualifying to appear at the National Finals in London.

“The policy adopted some years ago, of spending good money on a good ‘person in the middle’ had paid dividends with Mark Bentham, the present incumbent, carrying on the good work of previous MDs in keeping the band in the Championship Section.

“I want to thank band members, serving committee and supporters for administrative improvements. Without any corporate sponsorship, it was imperative that everyone concerned ‘Shared the Yoke’ in coming up with fund raising ideas, as around £5,000 was required just to realise the band’s ambitions to appear in the finals at London in October for only the second time in its 148 years."

Treasurer Jim Fitton produced a balance of accounts for the year. He stated that although they showed a small loss, the overall picture was an optimistic one.

President Ken Watts, chairman and treasurer Jim Fitton and vice chairman John Smith were re-elected.

Band members have organised a separate fund raising sub-committee in order to co-ordinate all fund-raising events. The elected committee approved this move.

Playing member Chris Buckley is to part in six half marathons and asked for pledges of support for band funds in his endeavours.