Musical Director : Mel Hopkin

Email address: enquiries@holbeachtownband.org.uk

Back Lane, Holbeach, Lincolnshire PE12 7LN (click for map)

Celebrating 40 years of Banding 1971 to 2011

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The Musical Director: Mel Hopkin - First Musical Director: Brian Long
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On this page: Amazon - Bb Music - Band Shop - Child Protection Policy - Donations - Examination Success - Fundraising - Interview with the MD - Latest Update - Latest News - Latest Photos - Looking after your Brass Instrument - Maps - Next Events - Old Town Band - Programme Notes - Rehearsals - Trophies - Vacancies - Visitors

 

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Latest:

Last: Update:
23 January 2012

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Rehearsals:

Wednesday 7.30 to 9.30 - Senior Band Practice

Wednesday 6.30 to 7.30 - Training Band practice for improvers

Saturday 10.00 to 11.00 - Learner Group practice for beginners

Saturday 11.00 to 12.00 - Theory lessons for Grades 1 to 5

All at our band room in Back Lane Holbeach.

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Reports from the Band's concerts and activities 2002 to 2011

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Donations

Many thanks to the following for their kind generosity in making donations to the band:

2008 - Bryan Thompson Windows of 27 Boston Road, Holbeach for the purchase of music stand lights.

2009 - Flashback Charity for new instruments (2 baritones and 2 tenor horns) for he band's learner group

2009 - Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd., Funeral Services for new band jumpers

2011 - Local Councillors Martin Howard and Rita Rudkin towards the cost of setting up the Training Band

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Examination Success

Congratulations to the following Band members and learner group members, trained by Musical Director Mel Hopkin, for their successes in the ABRSM music exams:

December 2011
Thomas Judd-Cooper - Grade 2 Cornet with distinction
Stephanie Palmer - Grade 2 Bass with merit

Hannah Palmer - Grade 2 Horn with merit

July 2011
Stephanie Palmer - Grade 1 Bass with distinction
Hannah Palmer - Grade 1 Horn with distinction
Jasmine Latka - Grade 2 Baritone with distinction
Ruby Latka - Grade 2 Horn with distinction
Calvin Bishop - Grade 4 Cornet

Yvonne Butter - Grade 5 euphonium with distinction

April 2011
James Hedges - Grade 3 Cornet with Merit

July 2010
Calvin Bishop - Grade 3 Cornet
Steven Butter - Grade 8 Cornet
Jimmy Hammon - Grade 1 Euphonium with merit
James Hedges - Grade 2 Cornet with Merit
Jasmine Latka - Grade 1 Baritone with Merit
Ruby Latka - Grade 1 Horn with Merit
William McKay - Grade 3
Cornet

December 2009
James Hedges - Grade 1 Cornet with Merit.
Calvin Bishop - Grade 2 Cornet

Autumn 2008
Steven Butter - Grade 6 Cornet with Merit
William McKay - Grade 1 Cornet with Merit.

June 2008
Steven Butter - Grade 5 Theory with Merit.

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Vacancies:

We have some vacancies. Come and join us (especially if you play bass or trombone)!

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Trophies:

Congratulations to our 2011 Trophy Winners: Les Hill was awarded the Jack Hopkin Trophy for his progress in the Training Band; Yvonne Butter was awarded the Musical Director's Trophy for her work as Chairman and Librarian; Steven Butter was awarded the Cecil Cook Trophy as the Player's Player of the Year. Well done to all. See details of trophy winners.

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Programme Notes:

We have added to the website notes on the pieces played at the band's concerts.

Follow the links:

Methodist Church - March 2008

Whaplode Drove - April 2008

Donington Church - May 2008

Holbeach Primary School - Oct 2009

Gedney Dawsmere - Oct 2010

Holbeach - Dec 2010

Ayscoughfee Gardens - June 2011

Long Sutton - Oct 2011

Christmas St Johns Church - Dec 2011

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Amazon:

Get your music and books from Amazon using this direct link

Search:
Keywords:
In Association with Amazon.co.uk

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We were delighted to hear from Clyde E. Hunt, trumpeter, cornetist, teacher, and composer from America whose Great Great Great Grandfather, Amos Hunt, was a blacksmith who resided in Holbeach c.1800 - 1880. Please visit his website www.bflatmusic.com

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Maps:

We have added location maps to assist our members and followers:

Bandroom

Anglia Motel

Donington Church

Fleet - Old Rectory

Fosdyke Tractor Rally

Gedney Dawsmere

Holbeach Tractor Rally

Hovenden House

Long Sutton Church

Whaplode Drove Church

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Child Protection Policy

Follow this link to view the Band's Child Protection Policy

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Visit our band shop. All clothing has a treble clef on the front and wording on the back - click the image in the shop for full details.

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Looking after your brass instrument

Follow this link to the website of brass-fix.co.uk where there is an excellent article on caring for your instrument

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Latest News:

Link to Band Calendar 2012

Photo Gallery from 2011

Next Events:

See the 2012 Calendar for the events proposed so far. We're going to be busy over the Jubilee weekend.

We're back in full swing with senior band, Training Band, Learner Group and Theory Lessons.

We are actively seeking more recruits for the Learner Group, so if you want to learn to play come and join us.

We also need a tuned percussion player for timpani, glockenspiel and ancillary percussion.

Recent Events

14 December - Christmas Concert sponsored by Lincolnshire Co-Op in aid of Help for Heroes

Carol Playing Now started - Springfields on 30th November, Sainsburys on 3rd December, Morrisons on 10th December, Baytree on 17th December, Masonic Hall on 21st December, Tesco Holbeach on 24th December.

Trophy Winners 2011

Thurs 17 November - Springfields Dickensian evening

Sun 13 November - Remembrance Sunday at Holbeach St Marks

Sat 29 October - Autumn Extravaganza at Terrington St Clement

Fri 28 October - Last Night of the Proms at Long Sutton Masonic Hall

Thurs 27 October - 6.30pm Switch on Christmas lights at Springfields

Mon 29 August - Baytree Garden Centre - pleasant Bank Holiday Monday.

Sun 21 August - 40th Anniversary BBQ - an enjoyable afternoon at the annual band barbecue.

1 to 8 Aug - Good start to the Learn to Play Week. 7 new learners started on the first day and 3 more started last week. 2 more started on the 2nd day and 3 more on the 4th day. That makes 15!!

 

 

For further information email enquiries@holbeachtownband.org.uk

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Latest Photos:

See our videos on YouTube

Visit us on Facebook


Facebook latest blogs:

Mel Hopkin
I'm starting Grade 3 Theory on Saturday from 11.00 to 12.00 at the bandroom. Come and join us, only £3 for the hour.
23 January 2012

Kim Huddlestone 
I thought the band practice went very well a lot of friendly banta which made the night for me.. Good to see some other bands players joining in with the fun.
21 January 2012

Mel Hopkin 
We do our best to make our visitors feel welcome. We are always pleased when experienced players come to join us.
20 January 2012

Rosalind Sharman
Glad to hear that. Love that some of the band members are actually chatting with me now. thanks everyone for making me feel "at home".
20 January 2012

Mel Hopkin 
And we like you!
20 January 2012

Rosalind Sharman
Oooh you are awful - but I like you!!??
20 January 2012

Mel Hopkin
I enjoyed practice tonight. Thanks to our visitors for their added experience (always welcome). The band sounded good.
18 January 2012  

Mel Hopkin 
It's good to have you. Come when you can.
18 January 2012

Adam Reece 
If and when work lets up, I will try to get over there in time for the learner band. Think I need all the practice I can get at the moment!!
18 January 2012

Kim Huddlestone
Reminder folkes: Band bingo tonight 6.45pm if you are able to help out with ticket sales etc.
14 January 2012

Kim Huddlestone 
I know you did but I did not write it down in my Diary and concequently did not remember to come. Sorry..... I did intend to come to the meeting. I have been having some problems downloading the minutes of the meetings is there any other format you could send them in. thanks Bev totally my fault for not comming.
14 January 2012

Bev Davey 
I did send you a reminder, and the minutes of the previous meeting, on the 6th
13 January 2012

Kim Huddlestone
Good band practice last night. I thought some of the new music was interesting. Shame I am not quite correct on my Solo but will work on that with mel. Big sorry to the band as I missed the committee meeting this last week. Somehow i did not manage to put it in my diary. (that is fatal as my memory is terrible). Will definately be at the next one. A reminder on here would help. Thanks to Yvonne Butter for the lift home, much appreciated.
13 January 2012

Mel Hopkin Look after yourself; but come back soon, the trombone section is missing you. On Theory, we're still on Grade 2 - we should move to grade 3 in the next couple of weeks.
13 January 2012

Bev Davey
 Hope you are soon full of beans again (not literally of course)
13 January 2012

Kim Huddlestone 
Hi hunny, sorry to here you are still not well. Hope to see you this weekend at Mandy's party. Get well soon and love to you both.
13 January 2012

Angela Hyam
Sorry not to have been with you last night - am still suffering. I have no energy or stamina and can only just drag myself out of bed at the moment. Its gone on for 2 weeks now! I wont be there Sat morning either I am afraid Mel. I will talk to you personally about that, though. Sounds like you all had a good night last night. Happy new year to you all.
13 January 2012

Kim Huddlestone
Reminder guys and gals Holbeach town band bingo is this friday night at the WI hall Holbeach... If you can help out we start about 6:45 and finish about 9:30pm if you can help out please let me know via this site. Thank you.
11 January 2012

Paul King
The Music as been announced that Paul Lovatt Coopers "Fire In The Blood " has been chosen as the music for Blow For Heroes
10 January 2012

Yvonne Butter 
and of course some of us go to work next day etc.......
7 January 2012

Kim Huddlestone 
Yes Mel but lets face it no one is watching you......... The bass end of the band do all the serious work anyway so I dont know what you too are moaning about :)
7 January 2012

Mel Hopkin 
I agree that the soprano part is not easy, and you play it well, but you play a few bars, go red then have a load of bars rest. Whereas I never get a rest - I'm always waving my arms.
6 January 2012

Laurence Watson 
That's a lie. I'm always there!
6 January 2012

Mel Hopkin 
Those of us who work hard at practice haven't got the strength left to lift a pint!
6 January 2012

 

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Visitors:

We welcome visitors to our band rehearsals. We are particulalry pleased to see former players who may be interested in returning to banding.

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Interview wih the Musical Director
made by Lincs Local TV

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Old Town Band:

We would like to hear from anyone with information about the original Holbeach Town Band: or the Holbeach Victoria Band from the early part of the 20th Century.

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Fundraising:

Kim Huddleston leads the Band's fundraising committee. The Band's monthly Bingo sessions are the centre of fundraising. The bingo sessions are held on the second Friday of every month and attendance is building up. They are held at the Women's Institute Hall in Holbeach.

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Website designed created and maintained by Mel Hopkin