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2025-12-31-accounts

Bristol Concert Wind Band Annual Report for 2025 Issue 1 presented for approval at the AGM 20 May 2026

Registered Charity No. 1142960 https://www.bcwb.co.uk Facebook – www.facebook.com/bristolconcertwindband

Scope

This is the Annual Report of the BCWB Trustees (who form the Committee). The last full AGM was held 6 June 2025. This Annual Report covers calendar year 2025, although inevitably some entries make reference to 2026 up to the date of the AGM.

The composition of the organisation is as follows

Constituent Bands

Associated Bands

BCWB Committee (i.e. Charity Trustees) between the AGMs of 6 June 2025 and 20 May 2026

Chair:
Malcolm Fox
Secretary:Chris Chaloner
Treasurer:Ann Gordon		 Constituent Band Representatives:
BCWB
• Rebecca Warren
• Eric Bateson
Blown Away!
• Phil Allen
• Kat Hollis
Winds Of Change
• Karri Chandler
• Nell Buckley
General Committee members
Jill Watson
Bernie Bertagne

Representatives of Associated Bands are invited to Committee Meetings; they participate but have no vote.

Fresh Winds representatives were Charlotte Hill and Karen Budd

Chair – Malcolm Fox

On behalf of the Bristol Concert Wind Band Association, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all members for their unwavering commitment throughout the year. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and active participation has been and continues to be vital to the success and growth of our organisation. Whether through performance, rehearsal, administration, or behind‑the‑scenes support, your contributions are the things that support and strengthen our community and enriched our musical endeavours.

I know there have been some sad times and ask that you remember and honour those who have passed away or moved on. Their presence, talent, and spirit remain an enduring part of our shared history.

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Musical Director – BCWB – Paul Sidney

2024/2025 was again a successful year for BCWB. We had two well attended formal concerts, one in Shirehampton, playing there for the first time, and concert with Arnos Vocale in Henleaze. These were enjoyed by the players and audiences and it was good to step out of the band's comfort zone and take on new challenges. We also played two charity concerts, one for MARLENS in Clevedon and a Christmas concert raising money for the Armstrong Hall in Thornbury. Once again these went really well, which were not only fun to do, but also extended our links to the community around Bristol whilst raising money for these charities. Our three outdoor concerts were also enjoyable afternoons, playing at the Blaise Estate, Keynsham, and Bath Parade Gardens. All were well appreciated by the audiences who attended and thankfully the weather was kind to us this year.

We have exciting concerts planned for this year ahead and the band has been boosted by having several new fantastic players join us. We still have vacancies in brass and percussion and hope that we can keep attracting new talented musicians to join us. I will continue to select music which is enjoyable and challenging in order to keep improving the band and make it as fun as possible for the players.

Musical Director – Blown Away! – Rob Bartlett

2025 was another good year for Blown Away!

In May we enjoyed a great concert at Trinity Henleaze with Winds of Change with good attendance from friends and family.

With our regular commitment at Pensford Evergreens being enjoyed by the audience I’m sure we’ll be back there in 2026.

In the summer we had two of our regular commitments with the band playing to an excellent standard at both Page park and at our summer concert at the Resound centre.

At the Christmas concert I was pleased to announce my now regular awards for most improved player ( Humphrey Woods French Horn) and BA! Player of the year ( Susie Crainey Flute)

My continued focus for 2026 will be intonation and dynamic range.

Musical Director –Winds Of Change and Fair Winds- Tina Bartlett

2025 was a year of big changes for Winds of Change and Fair Winds. WofC played their last 2 concerts under the direction of Rob after 15 years of him MDing the band. These were as part of 2 joint concerts, the first a concert with BA! at THURC on the 17th of May and with Fair Winds and Fresh Winds on 28th of June at Staple Hill Methodist Church.

The concert on the 28th of June was also Fair Winds last concert under my direction after 8 years of conducting the learner groups. It was lovely to hold this concert, and it was great to hear Fresh Winds, alongside Fair Winds and WoC for this end of an era concert.

In July Fair Winds merged into WoC and since then we have been learning how to play together as our new wonderfully large band. We were hopeful to play our first gig together in page park on the 31st of August, but this was not to be, with the rain stopping us. We have kept working hard though for the rest of the year and we finally got to play our first concert together at the Christmas fundraiser on the 6th of December at Hanham Community Centre. I don't think I will ever listen to Last Christmas again, without thinking of those snowballs! Thanks to all the players in Winds of Change and Fair Winds for making 2025 a great year.

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Course Leader – Fresh Winds – Heather Platt

Fresh Winds are progressing very well. The Autumn term was full of dedicated practise resulting in a truly brilliant performance at our Christmas Shindig. So proud!

Our new term has them still working through the 3rd year learner book. Plus we have several new scores to perfect for their first time playing at Page Park in July. I think I’m speaking for them all in saying we are very much looking forward to being there.

Prior to the Autumn term my warmest thanks go to my players and Malcolm for keeping the band together whilst I was unwell.

Malcolm led them through a shaky time and I’m very grateful that I got to be at the concert where he conducted a lovely performance. Thank you.

Group Organiser – Swing’s Cool – Chris Chaloner

We continue to rehearse monthly on Sunday mornings in the Long Ashton Community Centre under the direction of Derek Lawrence. We rehearsed every month of 2025 except December.

We are a non-auditioned rehearsal band founded many years ago to help Concert Band players to learn the Big Band idioms and conventions, and that is still largely the case. We mainly play the standard Big Band repertoire from sheet music but not limited to the standard lineup. Reading skills are widened through playing parts with swing conventions, and it makes an enjoyable Sunday morning. There is no pressure. If anyone wishes to try out on almost any instrument you will be very welcome. There is no requirement to be able to improvise, but those who can will get opportunities to do so.

Secretary – Chris Chaloner

Committee Meetings have been held (a mixture of in-person and Zoom) on:

.. and in 2026 (listed for completeness)

A number of members died in 2025:

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Events & Engagements in 2025

Date -
Day Band(s) involved Event Venue
2025
22 Mar Sat All bands Soirée WOT Village Hall
10 May sat BCWB SpringConcert St Mary’s Shirehampton
17 May Sat WOC+BA! Spring Concert THURC
1 June Sun BCWB Park Parade Gardens
3 June Tue All AGM Downend Baptist Church
19 June Thu BA! Pensford Evergreens Pensford
28 June Sat WOC+Fair Winds + Fresh
Winds		 Joint summer concert Staple Hill Methodist
Church
29 June Sun BA! Park Page Park
6 July Sun BCWB TBC Park Blaise
16 July Wed
BCWB		 MARLENS fundraiser Clevedon Community
Centre
3 Aug Sun BCWB Park Keynsham bandstand
31 Aug Sun WOC Park Page Park
6 Sep Sat BA! Summer Concert Resound Centre
8 Nov Sat BCWB Autumn Concert(with Arnos Vocale) THURC
10 Dec Wed
BCWB		 The Armstrong (formerly Armstrong Hall)
fundraiser		 Thornbury URC
6 Dec Sat All Christmas Event Hanham
17 Dec Wed
various		 Carolling Bristol Parkway
18 Dec Thu various Carolling Bristol Parkway
14 Dec Sun BCWB St Peters Carol Service St Peters Brislington

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Treasurer – Ann Gordon - Accounts for 2025

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The band has had another stable year financially. The vast majority of members pay their subs on time and we are able to claim gift aid on many of these subs. This amounted to £2,500 last year.

Often, particularly since Covid, we run our concerts at a loss, especially for the lower bands, which we can fortunately afford to do. Last year, however, has seen the main band regaining its audience and actually making a profit on its concerts.

Overall, our expenses exceeded our income by £1,499 last year. This was due to some exceptional purchases. We have invested in a new set of carol books which will hopefully be easier to read. We had to replace the band printer and to buy more music folders as the number of members increased due to Fair Winds merging into Winds of Change. We also have a good stock of new uniform.

We raised an amazing £2,000 for St Peter’s Hospice with our Christmas fundraiser at Hanham and the carols at Parkway station.

We have a very healthy bank balance and I am pleased to say there is no need to increase subs for the time being.

Membership Report for 2025 – Jill Watson

On the 31[st] December 2025, the membership across the BCWB organization totaled 157.

A breakdown of the membership, across the bands at the end of 2025, and a comparison of the seven preceding years, is given below:

Bristol Concert Wind Band
Blown Away!
Winds Of Change
Fair Winds
Fresh Winds
Actual Membership		 2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
46
47
51
49
47
52
54
54
55
55
53
54
51
64
67
56
55
32
34
32
39
38
40
37
N/A
39
34
30
27
14
14
13
29
27
30
175
200
202
165
164
206
217
186
157
162
171
138
140
184
196
172

NB The total number across the individual bands is higher than the membership figures as 25 members play in 2 or, in some cases, 3 of our bands, either through learning to play a 2[nd] or 3[rd] instrument or helping to bolster sections to enhance performance.

2025 saw Rob Bartlett step back from continuing to MD Winds of Change and Tina take the reins instead. It was agreed that with the lower numbers in WOC, the members of Fair Winds would move into WOC to bolster the numbers. This saw 25 new members join WOC. Seven members of Fair Winds were not able to continue with the band due to the change of evening rehearsals from a Wednesday to a Tuesday.

Four Members of WOC moved to BA! During the year.

The Summary of Leavers & Joiners in 2025 is given below, excluding those who joined from Fair Winds:

BCWB BA! WOC FairW FreshW
Joiners 5 6 7 1 1
Leavers 7 6 5 5 1

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Music Library – Jill Watson

During 2025 13 new pieces of music were purchased as well as a new set of Salvation Army Carol books, namely the Christmas Collection.

BCWB BA! WOC Troika Appalachian Morning Cups (When I'm Gone) Jungle Dance Anti-Hero Pictures At An Exhibition Time Warp Earth, Wind & Fire Dance Mix The Shallow U2 On Stage I Got You (I Feel Good) The Best of Queen A Lowland Lullaby

Tina Bartlett also kindly donated three pieces of music to the BCWB library: Joplin!, The Little Shop Of Horrors & Radetzky March: A Concert in Vienna and we are very grateful for these additions.

The auditing of the library is still ongoing. At the end of 2025, of the 984 pieces of music recorded as being in the library, a total of 152 pieces have now been identified as not being viable but that still leaves a potential 832 pieces available to loan to the bands, subject to further auditing. This number tends to increase year on year with the number of new music purchases made, even though we are still finding pieces that are not viable.

Of the 832 pieces that are potentially available to loan to the bands, 459 , up from 404 last year, have now been fully prepared and can confidently be used by the bands with a short notice period. The remaining 373 pieces, in the library, are still of unknown quality and require longer to prepare, along with any new purchases, to make them ready for distribution to the bands.

The complete Music Library can be viewed by all band members from within the Members area of the BCWB web site.

The music does involve a lot of management with:

I’d like to thank the main contributors to these tasks namely, Jackie Gitsham, Ann Gordon, Cathy Fraser, Gill Cooke, Rob Scott, Karri Chandler, Bernie Bertagne, Nell Buckley, Will Robertson but know that there are others involved and really appreciate what you do to help with the smooth running of these tasks.

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Musical Instruments

There are no major issues to report on the instrument pool. The principal uses for the instruments are (a) to loan to members of the learner groups and (b) to provide all the bands with more unusual instruments (particularly percussion, but also some others). In addition, short-term loans are made to members while their own instruments are serviced, or if they wish to try out a different instrument.

Videos - Chris Chaloner

Some of the engagements were recorded and uploaded to YouTube.

2025-12-06 BCWB All Bands Christmas Social Event https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZHAemooGeQQqNxfbKND9kalH9qjsIcm7&si=eMuRaVLRvFDuoREd 2025-11-08 BCWB with Arnos Vocale, THURC = = https://youtube.com/playlist?list PLZHAemooGeQQv6wjf2ObK1sq6LUI3TKqt&si h0Wy3vmiy5RurbvV 2025-09-06 Blown Away! summer concert, Resound Centre = = https://youtube.com/playlist?list PLZHAemooGeQQpAj2Cg8OPOfTGxcGU5U5c&si Ak0qv29jdqtWYdiV 2025-08-03 BCWB, Keynsham bandstand https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZHAemooGeQQO829-1tDQbXvXoHSsaXNG 2025-07-16 BCWB fundraising concert for MARLENS, Clevedon = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list PLZHAemooGeQQBjAgVbVcOe6tRCnmHQaaq 2025-07-06 BCWB, Blaise = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list PLZHAemooGeQT5t77gGOrkyrwjxgp_lHpl 2025-06-29 Blown Away!, Page Park = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list PLZHAemooGeQS01AtTpd3pfkbNH2AOzbgp 2025-06-28 Fair Winds end-of-course (with Fresh Winds and Winds Of Change), Staple Hill Methodist Church https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZHAemooGeQSIr75eU1vZ0EUEwVAr4f0E 2025-05-17 WOC + BA! Friends and Family Spring Concert, THURC https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZHAemooGeQRccSxJPaJSPtzkCxEBzJXM&si=HbFqaBVuZ7RgVXVq 2025-05-10 BCWB Spring Concert, St Mary’s, Shirehampton = = - https://youtube.com/playlist?list PLZHAemooGeQS1V2rG8Gz3rZFXzFPzVamj&si D38_o4M1ua MkIup 2025-03-22 BCWB All Bands soirée = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list PLZHAemooGeQSwNakkP7LdgBrVPcfpo5ix

DOCUMENT END

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