Annual Report for the Heath Band 1[st ] January to 31[st ] December, 2025
The Heath Band is a community, non-contesting brass band which provides musical entertainment at concerts and local events. The Heath Band also has a training band for all ages and abilities. Our training band is free of charge.
Aims and Purposes
To operate an amateur brass band which will provide the music for concert performances and local events.
To promote, develop and maintain people’s enjoyment, appreciation and understanding of brass band music.
To facilitate the musical education of band members, people learning to play and the public via rehearsals, performances and our training band.
Activities
2025 was another successful year. Our engagement schedule went ahead as planned and this included summer bandstand events, fetes, remembrance services and Christmas engagements. Particular highlights were our spring concert, at which our thriving training band gave a spirited rendition of favourite pieces, our summer performances at the bandstand and at a local picnic in the park (a new community initiative), and our busy Christmas season.
We have been delighted to welcome new members to both the main and training bands, and we’re about to welcome a new member to our committee.
For 2026
As always, we would like to recruit more members to the band. We will be continuing to advertise for more players, particularly in our front-row cornet and low brass sections, and percussion.
Our diary is already very full; we are looking forward to our spring concert and summer events, and continuing to support the development of new players.
Finance summary (please see attached report for details)
We have been able to make a small surplus again this year largely due to our concerts and Christmas events. We are also very grateful to our MD who gives his time for free.
A grant from Leighton-Linslade Arts Forum allowed us to purchase some new music for which we are very thankful.
Administrative Information
The Trustees and Committee met regularly throughout the year. We welcomed Christopher Cox as our new chairman and Marie Brown as a member of the committee. Three committee members are also Trustees (denoted by * on the list overleaf)
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Chris Cox; Chairman
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Linda Johnson*; Treasurer
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Kath Mowbray*; Bookings/General Secretary
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Dave Mowbray* ; Stores, assets, Membership secretary
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Kathy Gifford; Bandmaster/librarian
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Marie Brown; training band coordinator
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Steve Allen; Musical Director.
Chairman’s report
This is the second annual report I have prepared for Heath Band and I am delighted to report that we have had another excellent year and that the band continues to be in an extremely strong position. We are financially sound, we have a brilliant core of regular players in the main band and the training band is doing a fantastic job of developing the next generation of Heath Band players. You can see the details of our financial position in the treasurer’s report, but I would like to thank all of you for your support in maintaining our financial security through your subscriptions and by turning out for the jobs which we need to do to boost our income.
There are three key events which underpin the band’s calendar, our Spring Concert, the Bandstand Concert in Leighton Buzzard and our Christmas visit to Brooklands Club. We aim to give everyone as much notice as possible for these events (next year’s Spring
Concert will soon be in the diary!) so that we can get maximum support from each of you and minimise the number of deps we need to bring in. We also have frequent requests for the band to play at local events. To ensure that we are meeting the financial needs of the band whilst not making too many calls upon your time, we have established three criteria which we are now using to assess these additional requests:
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Community involvement: does the job meet our aims and objectives for supporting the local community
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Profile: does the job enhance the profile of the band
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Financial: is the payment too good to refuse!
Hopefully by matching all the requests which we receive against these criteria we will maintain the financial security of the band and provide good playing opportunities for you without making excessive demands upon your support and time!
I would like to thank Steve, our Music Director and Kathy, our Bandmaster for their commitment and all the time they dedicate to helping the band achieve its excellent
musical standards. I would also like to thank all the members of the committee for the hard work they put in behind the scenes to keep the band running smoothly, helping us maintain our strong financial position and making the band a supportive community. where everyone feels welcome and we can enjoy making music together. Finally I would like to thank each one of you for your hard work, support and enthusiasm over the year. Without you we wouldn’t have a band. I also want to encourage each of you to put forward your ideas and suggestions for how we can improve the band both musically and socially so that together we can make the band community even stronger.
Musical Director’s Report
I want to start by thanking all our regular members who show every week and put in huge effort for both the training and main band we now have a steady cover of 23 members and that is really impressive.
I want to thank all members of the committee who ably back me and have made the end of last year when I was poorly nice and easy for the band members.
The spring concert was a huge success and raised an astonishing amount of funds for the band and was really well attended by an enthusiastic audience.
We now move into our Summer Season and I implore you to use Muzodo, so we know what if any deps we might need for the upcoming jobs”.
Heath Band Accounts: 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2026
Income
Subscriptions £3111. Concerts. £591.09, other engagements, £2136.07, grants and donations. £1982.92.
Total income £7821
Expenditure
Running expenses; Venue costs £2061.50, Brass Bands England, £140.40, Performing rights license, £181.14, Insurance, £729.29, Christmas dinner, £150, Muzodo, £57.43, training band conductor £500, Website/fasthosts, £244.8, Stationery, £22.50, Band member recognition costs £52.48
Equipment; Music, Uniform, £210.35, Instruments, £136.35, £Storage/removal van, £1589.22
Total expenditure £6075.46
Bank balance £13058.74
Treasurer’s Report 2025
Financial Overview
For the year ended 31st December 2025, the band maintained a satisfactory financial position, with total incoming resources exceeding total expenditure, resulting in a surplus for the year. Full details are set out in the accompanying financial statements.
Income
The band’s income continued to be derived from member subscriptions, concert and engagement fees, together with grants and voluntary income.
The band gratefully acknowledges receipt of a legacy from the estate of Freda Hill in the sum of £1,582.92 , which has made a valuable contribution to the band’s financial position during the year.
Expenditure
Expenditure during the year comprised the usual costs associated with the operation of the band, including rehearsal and performance facilities, insurance, training, transport, and administrative expenses. All expenditure was applied in furtherance of the charity’s objectives.
Reserves Policy
The trustees aim to maintain an appropriate level of reserves to ensure the continued operation of the band and to meet anticipated future expenditure, including the maintenance and replacement of instruments and equipment.
Public Benefit
The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The band continues to advance education and promote the arts through public performances and by providing opportunities for musical participation and development within the community.
Conclusion
The trustees consider that the band remains in a sound financial position and are satisfied that its resources are being managed effectively in support of its charitable purposes.