Trustees’ Annual Report
COMBER BRASS
1[st] January 2025 – 31[st] December 2025
NIC No. 108370 Principal Address: Gospel Hall, 2A Cherryvalley Drive, Comber, Co. Down. N. Ireland. BT23 5BS
Annual Report of the Trustees of Comber Brass - 2025
1. Introduction
This report is prepared in compliance with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 in respect of “Comber Brass”, Northern Ireland Charity No. 108370 and in respect of the financial year 1[st] January 2025 to 31[st] December 2025.
2. Structure, governance & management
Comber Brass is an unincorporated association, governed by an amended constitution adopted on 27[th] January 2021. The charity is run entirely by its members on a voluntary basis and is managed by a committee of trustees, which includes a Chairperson, Treasurer and a Secretary, who are elected each year by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee meets regularly throughout the year to effectively manage its business and presents end of year reports to the full membership at the AGM.
3. Purpose of the charity
The purpose of Comber Brass is the advancement of the musical arts and culture in Northern Ireland, particularly in the North Down area, by:
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a) affording the opportunity for anyone to make music as part of a brass band;
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b) developing musicianship and ensemble playing within the band;
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c) providing the general public with exposure to the brass band repertoire and promoting their appreciation of it;
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d) participating through musical performance in the traditions and culture of the local community.
4. Public benefit
The direct benefit flowing from our purpose is the contribution the band makes to society in having a rich diversity of music to experience from different cultures and origins, and also the benefit derived by those who are provided with an opportunity to make and perform music, particularly as a member of a larger group. These benefits are wide-ranging, universally recognised and well documented in academic research. They include, but are
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not limited to, cultural expression and enrichment, emotional and mental wellbeing, cognitive development, socialisation and improved physical health.
The beneficiaries of our purpose are the general public of Northern Ireland and of North Down in particular, both as individuals who are afforded the opportunity to play in a brass band and as audience participants to the public performances that it delivers.
The trustees consider that there is no harm flowing from the purpose of the charity.
A private benefit gained from our purpose is the engagement of professional Musical Directors to conduct the weekly rehearsals and band performances, to develop musicianship and ensemble playing within the band, and to assist in the planning and delivery of the band’s annual programme of engagements. This private benefit is wholly incidental and necessary to the delivery of the stated purpose of the band.
The trustees of Comber Brass confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4(6) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and that the public benefit requirement has informed the activities of Comber Brass in the year to 31 December 2025.
5. Summary of main activities to promote our purpose for the public benefit
Comber Brass is a community brass band whose membership is open to anyone who wishes to make music with the band, regardless of ability or age. The band rehearses in the Gospel Hall at Cherryvalley Drive, Comber under the direction and instruction of experienced and qualified Musical Directors, the senior band for 2 hours on a Wednesday evening and the Youth Band for 1 hour on a Tuesday evening during term time.
Comber Brass regularly participates in the regional festivals, solo and ensemble competitions that are organised by the Brass Band League of Northern Ireland and the North of Ireland Bands Association. The band fulfils several engagements annually on behalf of local councils to perform in public parks and also holds its own concert performances to entertain the general public and to promote their appreciation of this genre of music.
Comber Brass is also regularly engaged to provide music at annual religious services, civic ceremonies, festivals, and other local community and charitable events, particularly in the Comber area.
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6. Main achievements in this reporting year
The main achievements in delivering the public benefit in this reporting year are summarised below with reference to the 4 objectives that comprise the band’s purpose and the delivery of the public benefit.
(1) Affording the opportunity for anyone to make music as part of a brass band.
Comber Brass continued to function without disruption as a community banding organisation throughout 2025, remaining in good financial standing and open to new members joining. The senior band carried out a full programme of 57 rehearsals and 25 engagements throughout the year, retaining a strong membership with around 38 regular players at year end. The Youth Band continued with its weekly rehearsals during school terms and had several opportunities to perform in public and for family & friends during the year.
The good governance of Comber Brass was upheld by the committee for 2025, elected in accordance with the Constitution at the AGM held on 29th January 2025. It met formally on 4 occasions during the year, the business being conducted to a previously circulated agenda and a minute recorded of its deliberations and actions agreed. Members of the committee also met on various occasions for informal briefings and updates.
As well as routine band administration and normal event planning activities, the work of the Committee included:
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a) organisational planning for an outdoor ‘Bands In The Park’ concert in collaboration with Harmonic Sounds;
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b) undertaking an audit of uniform requirements / needs and existing stock;
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c) sourcing and purchase of new outdoor weatherproof jackets;
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d) preparation of applications for funding schemes launched during the year by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
(2) Developing musicianship and ensemble playing within the band.
There was good attendance by members of the Senior Band at its rehearsals on Wednesday evenings throughout the year. A full band was regularly available for the Musical Director to deliver productive rehearsals and to further challenge the band with new repertoire for concert performances, and through test piece preparation for the competitions it entered.
During 2025 the Senior Band enjoyed some mixed fortune in the regional brass band competitions.
Having entering the BBNI Solos & Ensembles for the first time in many years, the Senior band achieved a very creditable 2[nd] placing in the ‘Senior Ensemble’ class in a very
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competitive field, and was also awarded ‘Best 2[nd] Section Quartet’. The Youth Band again enjoyed success both as an ensemble by winning the ‘Youth Band’ section and by gaining 1[st] and 2[nd] place in the ‘Under 12 yrs’ solo, and 3[rd] place in the ‘Under 15 yrs’ solo competitions.
In March, the Senior Band finished in a disappointing 4[th] place in the BBNI Brass In Concert competition at the Valley Hotel in Fivemiletown, despite having delivered what it considered to be a very entertaining program. This disappointment was however short lived, as a few weeks later the band was awarded 1[st] place in the BBNI Spring Festival, adjudicated by Dr Robert Childs, playing their own choice test piece of ‘Friendly Takeover’ by Oliver Waespi. This represented a significant milestone for the band, being it’s first winning performance since moving up to the Second Section in 2016. The band’s Musical Director, Mr Paul Hamilton, also won the Burch Trophy for ‘Second Section Best Conductor’.
Ending the competition year with the NIBA Brass Band Championships, the band were again rather disappointed with their 5[th] placing in the Second Section, performing the very challenging set test piece ‘Sanctuary’ by Daniel Hall.
| Competition Date Grade Entered Placing |
Competition Date Grade Entered Placing |
Competition Date Grade Entered Placing |
Competition Date Grade Entered Placing |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBNI Solos & Ensemble 2025 15 Feb 24 Under 12 solos 1stand 2nd |
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| BBNI Solos & Ensemble 2025 15 Feb 24 Under 15 solos 3rd |
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| BBNI Solos & Ensemble 2025 15 Feb 24 Youth Band 1st |
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| BBNI Solos & Ensemble 2025 15 Feb 24 Quartet Best 2ndSection |
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| BBNI Solos & Ensemble 2025 15 Feb 24 Senior Ensemble 2nd |
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| BBNI Brass In Concert 2025 1 Mar 25 2ndSection 4th |
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| BBNI Spring Festival 2025 17 Apr 25 2ndSection 1st |
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| NIBA Brass Championships 2025 | 14 Oct 25 | 2ndSection | 5th |
(3) Providing the general public with exposure to the brass band repertoire and promoting their appreciation of it. (where the band performance was the primary activity at the event)
The band enjoyed several opportunities to perform for the general public during 2025 with some notable highlights. The year began with a ‘Family & Friends’ night at which the Youth Band played a short programme for the large audience attending, following which the
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Senior Band delivered a performance of its programme for the BBNI entertainment competition to be held the following weekend.
In May, an ensemble from the band was invited by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to provide a short performance at their Band’s Forum attended by the Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, MLA.
Other notable events during the year included a joint ‘Bands In The Park’ concert with Harmonic Sounds at Lower Crescent, Comber. The performance featured a massed bands ‘Proms Finale’ and was well supported and appreciated by the local community. Other ‘firsts’ for the band included a full band summer concert at the Ulster Folk Museum and a very successful Christmas concert performance with the Ards Choral Society in the Queen’s Hall, Newtownards.
| Event Date |
Event Date |
|---|---|
| CSB Parents, Family & Friends Night – 2ndPresbyterian Church, Comber 21 Feb 2025 |
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| Arts Council Band’s Forum – The Braid, Ballymena 17 May 2025 |
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| Comber Earlies Potato Festival (Senior band) – The Square, Comber 28 Jun 2025 |
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| Comber Earlies Potato Festival (Youth band) – The Square, Comber 28 Jun 2025 |
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| ‘Bands In The Park’ with Harmonic Sounds – Lower Crescent, Comber 25 Jul 2025 |
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| Summer Festival – The Harbour, Donaghadee 27 Jul 2025 |
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| Ulster Folk Museum ‘Summer Special’ - Cultra 24 Aug 2025 |
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| Ards Choral Society Christmas Concert - Newtownards 3 Dec 2025 |
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| Parents & Family Christmas Concert (Youth Band) - Gospel Hall, Comber | 16 Dec 2025 |
(4) Participating through musical performance in the traditions and culture of the local community. (where the band performance was a supporting activity at the event)
The band performed in support of several cultural and traditional events during 2025, including local festivals, church services, and Christmas festivities. Highlights for the band again included the Hillsborough Garden Party, attended this year by the Princess Royal and a new engagement to play at the Montalto Christmas Market near Ballynahinch. The band again finished off this year supporting the Ulster Folk Museum with their Christmas events over several weekends in December.
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| Event Date |
Event Date |
|---|---|
| Sea Bangor Festival – Bangor Harbour 24 May 2025 |
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| Hillsborough Castle & Gardens – Sec. of State Garden Party 10 Sep 2025 |
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| Botanic Gardens Festival, Belfast 14 Sep 2025 |
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| Remembrance Sunday Parade – The Square, Comber 9 Nov 2025 |
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| Montalto Estate Christmas Market - Ballynahinch 22 Nov 2025 |
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| Christmas Event - Bangor City Hall, Bangor 23 Nov 2025 |
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| Christmas Fair (Youth Band) – The Square, Comber 27 Nov 2025 |
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| Christmas Programme - Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra (over 3 weekends) December 2025 |
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| Church Service - Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church 7 Dec 2025 |
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| Christmas Church Service - Ballyhemlin Presbyterian Church, Newtownards | 21 Dec 2025 |
7. Financial Review
The band’s accounts for the year were prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis as permitted by the relevant charity legislation and were approved by the Trustees on 5[th] January 2026. A copy of the accounts and the report of the Independent Examiner are available to view on the Charity Commissioner’s web-site. At the end of the financial year, the total assets of the band less liabilities was £91,905 (excluding outstanding invoices not settled in this reporting period), an increase of £16,181 compared to the previous year, with £26,605 being held in cash accounts.
Comber Brass operates a reserves policy of maintaining a minimum cash balance that is sufficient to meet the estimated fixed costs of the band for the year ahead. The accounts show that the funds of Comber Brass at the end of the financial year were in sufficient surplus to allow the activities of the band to continue without disruption.
8. Report approval
This report was approved by the trustees of Comber Brass and the following signatories are authorised to sign it on their behalf.
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----- Start of picture text -----
___ Lawrence Baalham (Chair) - Date: 5 [th] January 2026
___ William Gray (Secretary) i, Will Date: 5 [th] January 2026
_____ Maurice Baalham (Treasurer) / Mat Date: 5 [th] January 2026
----- End of picture text -----
List of Trustees
The charity trustees on the date the report was approved were as follows:
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Lawrence Baalham (Chair)
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William Gray (Secretary)
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Maurice Baalham (Treasurer)
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Jane Smyth
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Andrew Lawrie
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Libby Young
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Lana Moore
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Matthew Lawrie
The charity trustees during the year 1[st] January 2025 – 31[st] December 2025 was as above.
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