 | Committee Meetings will be held on the 1st Wednesday in each month
at 8.00pm unless notified otherwise. Next Committee Meeting 7th
October 2009 |
| Thursday 8th January 2009 - Band Practices resumed after the Christmas
Break. |
| Friday 16th - 18th January 2009 - Annual trip to the Contest
weekend at Butlins, Skegness. |
| Saturday 17th January 2009 - NIBA delegate meeting in Acton. |
| Saturday 17th January 2009 - Auditions for European Youth Band. |
| Friday 6th & Saturday 7th February 2009 - Foden Richardson band
in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh. Tickets from Ivor Stevenson Tel: 3752
6339 |
| Saturday 7th February 2009 - Cory Band at the St. Patrick's Hall in
Strabane |
| Wednesday 11th February 2009 - Annual Band Table Quiz in Acton
Hall. |
| Saturday 21st February 2009 - Fivemiletown Entertainments Contest
in the Valley Hotel. |
| Tuesday 10th March 2009 - Additional rehearsal for Annual Concert
in Acton at 8.00pm. |
| Wednesday 11th March 2009 - Annual Band Concert in Poyntzpass
RBL Hall at 8.00pm. |
| Friday 27th March 2009 - Concert programme for Cargans Community
Association in Tandragee Golf Club. |
| Saturday 4th April 2009 - Brass Band League Spring Festival in
Strabane. |
| Sunday 19th April 2009 - South West Down Bands Association Annual
charity church parade and service in Banbridge. |
| Thursday 23rd April 2009 - SWDBA Meeting in Acton. Band to provide
short concert programme after the meeting. |
| Sunday 10th May 2009 - Annual Jerrettspass Church Parade. |
| Friday 22nd May 2009 - Mavemacullen Annual Parade in Markethill. |
| Sunday 24th May 2009 - Scarva Bandstand concert 2.30pm to
3.30pm. |
| Thursday 11th June2009 - Poyntzpass Royal British Legion fete.
7.45pm |
| Friday 26th June 2009 - John Hunter Accordion Annual Parade in
Mountnorris.(Insufficient members available) |
| Sunday 28th June 2009 - Scarva Bandstand concert 3.00pm to 4.00pm |
| Wednesday 1st July 2009 - Annual 1st July celebrations in
Poyntzpass. |
| Sunday 5th July 2009 - Poyntzpass Church Parade. |
| Wednesday 8th July 2009 - Hamiltonsbawn Silver Band Annual parade. |
| Monday 13th July 2009 - Annual 12th July Demonstration in Armagh. |
| Tuesday 14th July 2009 - Annual 13th July Demonstration in Scarva. |
| Tuesday 28th July 2009 - Tyrones Ditches Pipe Band Annual Fete. |
| Friday 31st July 2009 - Tullyvallen Silver Band Annual parade. |
| Sunday 9th August 2009 - Scarva Bandstand concert 3.00pm to 4.00pm |
| Monday 10th August - Saturday 15th August - Annual Armagh
Summer School with Fodens Group at Armagh Music Centre. |
| Thursday 20th August 2009 - Band Practices Resume in Acton
Hall |
| Saturday 22nd August 2009 - Band fundraising charity Concert at
Quays Shopping Centre, Newry to raise funds for Southern Area Hospice, later
Band Barbecue and Social evening at Acton Hall. |
| Saturday 29th August 2009 - Annual RBP Demonstration with Hillhall
RBP to Crossgar. Meet at 7.45pm at Hillhall. |
| Sunday 13th September 2009- Richhill Castle Concert for European
Heritage Open Day. Meet at 2.45pm. |
| Sunday 18th October 2009 - Annual GB & BB Enrollment parade and
service in Tandragee Presbyterian Church. Meet at 2.15pm at Tandragee
Primary School. |
| Saturday 31st October 2009 - NIBA Irish Championship Contest in The
Market Place Theatre, Armagh. |
| Wednesday 4th November 2009 - Annual General Meeting in Acton at
8.00pm |
| Sunday 8th November 2009 - Annual parade and service with
Poyntzpass Royal British Legion. Meet at 6.30pm. |
| Friday 20th November 2009 - Annual Band Dinner Dance in Tandragee
Golf Club. |
| Saturday 28th November - Annual Georgian Day in Armagh. Meet 2.00pm
at Armagh Music Centre. |
| Sunday 29th November 2009 - Annual Carol service in Kilmore Parish
Church. meet 6.30pm. |
| Wednesday 2nd December 2009 - Switch on Christmas lights in
Gilford. Meet at 6.45pm. |
| Saturday 5th December 2009 - Switch on Christmas lights in Scarva.
Meet at 6.45pm. |
| Sunday 6th December 2009 - Annual Carol service in Ballymore Parish
Church - Meet at 6.30pm. |
| Thursday 10th December 2009 - Christmas Music in the High Street
Mall, Portadown. Meet 78.30pm. |
| Sunday 13th December 2009 - Annual Carol service in Cremore
Presbyterian Church - Meet at 10.30am. |
| Sunday 13th December 2009 - Annual Carol service in Aghaderg
Parish Church, Loughbrickland - Meet at 6.30pm. |
| Sunday 20th December 2009 - Annual Community Carol Service in
Poyntzpass. Meet at 2.00pm for 3.00pm. |
| Sunday 20th December 2009 - Annual Carol service in Acton Parish
Church, Poyntzpass. Meet at 6.30pm. |
| Friday 20th November 2009 - the
band again had its Annual Dinner Dance in Tandragee Golf Club. The event was
well supported with approximately 110 people attending. This
included a large number of friends, families and supporters of the band and
a good night was had by all. The four course Turkey and Ham dinner was
served and this was followed by dancing to the group 'Rio Country''. A
very successful raffle and auction were also held during the evening when
considerable amounts were raised for band funds. Ticket prices were held to
£17.50 with band members at school / university or college getting half
price tickets. This compares very well with other dinner dances and the
event will still break even for the band. |
| On Saturday 31st October 2009 the band
took again took part in the annual NIBA Irish Championship contest
held in the Market Place Theatre in Armagh. We had met early at Acton
to have a short rehearsal and then traveled over to Armagh where we arrived
in good time for the contest. The band was drawn to play No5, last
band, in the section and we had 25 members plus Dessie on stage for
the test piece performance. The band give a good performance of the piece
and were placed second in the competition with 90 points by the adjudicator,
Mr Peter Bassano. The St Mary's Silver Band from Tempo were first with 93
points. The full results are on the NIBA website at
www.niba.fsnet.co.uk . After the results we all traveled to
the Woodview restaurant near Richhill for a lunch after which some members
returned to the theatre to view the remainder of the contest. Well done to
everyone for the work put in for the contest and to Dessie also for his hard
work. |
| AGM Report - On Wednesday 4th
November 2009 the band held its Annual General Meeting in Acton
Hall. A good turn out of members attended to hear the reports from the
secretary and treasurer and for the election of the new committee etc. At
the meeting those present were informed of the monies raised for the Charity
which we had supported and a cheque was presented to John Dalzell and
Liz Armstrong of the Southern Area Hospice which together with the
collection on the day at the concert at the Buttercrane Shopping Centre
amounted to £600. A new committee was elected and following the
meeting all present were entertained to supper. |
| September 2009 - Best wishes to all
our university students as they leave for to take up their studies. Sandra
is going to Coleraine, Victoria to Jordanstown and Gemma to Sunderland. Also
to Keri, Sharon and Jamie who are continuing with their studies at QUB. |
| Saturday 29th August 2009 -the band
accompanied Hillhall RBP 1074 to the Annual last Saturday in August Black
demonstration in Crossgar. We had to meet at Hillhall in Lisburn for 7.45am
and at approx 8.00am after playing 'Abide With Me' outside the hall we
proceeded to parade through Lisburn out to the Ominplex where we boarded the
buses. From there it was on to Ballyhinch where the Preceptory had organised
a full breakfast for everyone at the Rossi restaurant. After the breakfast
we again loaded up the buses and traveled to on to Crossgar where we were
dropped off at the assembly field. We watched a good part of the
parade leaving the assembly field before we joined in. The band played
really well despite being smaller than normal due to a number of members
being unavailable due to work and holiday comittments. We were the still the
best Silver band in the parade which had 7 silver bands taking part , the
same number as last year. There was a very large crowd in Crossgar to watch
and our band was again seen by thousands of people. There were quite a few
other good bands taking part in the parade with a good show of Senior
Flutes, some good pipe bands and a sprinkling of good accordion bands. The
standard of the Melody Flutes also continues to improve with some very good
melody bands taking part. Unfortunately the weather turned out wet with
heavy rain as we approached the demonstration field. Fortunately it cleared
and we were dry for the return parade but the field was very wet and muddy.
Then back to Lisburn where we did a short parade from the new library back
to the hall where we all were entertained to another fine meal. |
| Examinations 2009 - Another very
successful year for all of the very smart young people in the band.
Congratulations to Gemma, Sandra and Victoria on their A level results.
Gemma will be studying at Sunderland , Victoria at Jordanstown and Sandra at
Coleraine Universities next year and we wish them all well. Also
well done to Laura, Ryan and Rachel who had good results in their AS
levels. Andrew and Rebekah also all had good results in their GCSEs.
Congratulations to 2nd Cornet player Keri Dillon who has graduated from
Jordanstown with a 2.1 degree in Quantity Surveying. Keri is returning to
Queens to complete a Masters. |
| Saturday 22nd August 2009 - The band
again held is annual barbecue and social night following our playing at the
Newry Shopping centres to raise money for the Southern Area Hospice in Newry.
There was a good turn out of members and friends and the cooking was again
carried out by our Solo Horn player, Barry. The weather which had been dry
and sunny did turn wet in the evening but the barbecue part of the
proceedings were over by that stage. Dessie organised the Karaoke and
a good evening was enjoyed by all. |
| Armagh Summer School 10th - 15th August 2009
The band again supported the Annual Summer school in Armagh organised by
the Armagh Old Boys Silver Band . We had a large contingent of young people
at the summer school and as normal Dessie took charge and with the
assistance of a mini bus on hire from Banbridge District Council did a
sterling job all week . Those taking part in the week's events included
Dessie, Ryan, Jamie, Rebecca, Rebekah, Gemma, Ellen, Alice, Rachel, Michael,
Sharon, Claire, Laura and Arnold. Michael won the prize for the most
promising percussionist and Dessie the prize for the best over 25. The
Saturday night concert was a truly fantastic event with music performed by
the youth band and all comers bands to a very high standard. Well done
everyone and congratulations all round for representing the band in such a
fine manner. |
| Tuesday 14th July 2009 - the
band accompanied the local Poyntzpass RBP to Scarva. We paraded Poyntzpass
at 9.00am before travelling to Scarva. After generous hospitality at Leslie,
our Drum Major's home in Scarva, we took part in the Demonstration through
Scarva to the field. This year the weather was excellent and although
cloudy in the morning it was quite warm and the sun broke through and it was
a bright sunny day which followed. This year the band had to play at the
Platform proceedings in the field and during a very hot sunny spell we sat
and played both before and during the religious service and at the end of
the platform speeches. We left the field at 3.15pm and paraded through
Scarva again before traveling on to Poyntzpass for a further parade to
complete the day. Today the band had 37 on parade and put on a great show
for the public. The crowds in Scarva were again massive, 100,000 +, and you
play to crowded footpaths filled with spectators from start to finish. As I
have said many times this is a fantastic platform for any band and we are
seen at this event alone by more people in one day that any of our senior/
non parading brass bands will be seen at all of their functions in twenty
lifetimes. We are really out if front of the public and letting our band be
seen in our marching role which is very important and probably the best way
for any band to connect with a wide audience. Scarva is a good parade with a
good selection of bands on parade with 7 Brass bands in this years parade. |
| Monday 13th July 2009 - the band
accompanied the local Acton & Poyntzpass lodges to Armagh for the Annual
demonstration. We met in Acton at 8.00am and paraded Acton at 8.30am before
all traveled by coach, first to Poyntzpass where we did a full parade of the
village with the two lodges, and then on to Tandragee for the District
parade. We paraded through Tandragee to the War Memorial in the town
centre where we provided the music for the short service before the entire
District lodge did a parade through the town and out to the buses on the
Portadown Road. We then traveled to Armagh where we paraded from the
Portadown Road passing the Planetarium, the Royal School and the Courthouse
and up through College Street, through the City centre and via Victoria
Street to the field at the top of the Hamiltonsbawn Road. A walk of about 3
miles. The weather was warm and sunny in the morning right through to
we arrived in the field but it the clouded over and we had rain by the time
we were leaving the field to parade back through Armagh to the buses. Later
we paraded back through both Poyntzpass and Acton where we were caught in a
torrential deluge on Poyntzpass main street but kept on playing. We
completed our day with us back home for 7.30pm for our tea. The band did
very well all day with 30 members on parade. If we were not the best band
there we were pretty close. |
| Wednesday
1st July 2009
- The band held its annual parade and 1st July celebrations in
Poyntzpass on the above date. The weather was warm and sunny and there was a
good crowd of spectators in the village. 10 bands in total attended and this
included 4 brass, 3 pipe, 2 accordion and 1 part flute. As in former years a
massed silver band paraded the village and played hymn tunes in the square. |
| Friday 5th June 2009- Congratulations
to Amanda (Solo Cornet) and husband Stephen on the birth of a new baby
girl. Best wishes and congratulations from everyone at the band. |
| Friday 1st May 2009- The band has
now been accepted as a Charity by HM Customs & Excise. The bands thanks
to Vice Chairman Gerald Lunn for the work and time spent in achieving
this. |
| Saturday 25th April 2009- Congratulations
to Elaine (1st Baritone) and husband Paul on the birth of a new baby boy. A
brother for band members Toby and Ben. Best wishes and congratulations from
everyone at the band. |
| Saturday 4th April 2009 - The
band again took part in the annual Brass Band League spring festival
held this year in the new Alley Theatre in Strabane. We traveled down in a
mini bus and cars for an early rehearsal in St Joseph's Band room in
Strabane and then traveled on to the theatre for the competition. We
were drawn to play No 2 in the section and were reasonably pleased with our
performance of Eric Balls 'Impromptu' which we played with a much reduced
band from our NIBA performance due to members not being available for this
contest. The contest was won by St Mary's Band from Tempo and although we
didn't make the prizes we all enjoyed our day and the band did not disgrace
themselves. A lot of the members stayed all day to watch the rest of
the contest and a few even stayed for the Swedish Youth Band concert at
night with Steve Sykes. This actually turned out to be a really good day and
the venue was first class and the help and welcome from the St Joseph's Band
was great. The BBL also had the organisation of the event well under control
and the day flowed along quite smoothly. |
| Wednesday 11th March 2009 Annual Band
Concert - The Royal British Legion Hall in Poyntzpass was again
practically filled to capacity for the band's annual concert. As always the
Compere was Leonard Shields who is very much enjoyed by the audience. The
Poyntzpass Primary School choir and their teacher Pauline Neill gave a
delightful performance of 6 pieces all of which were new and modern and
performed with great confidence. The school brass members also played two
hymn tunes along with the band and did extremely well. The band provided the
bulk of the programme and really put on a great performance and had a very
good sound from a turn out of 31 plus conductor Dessie. A number of new
pieces were played at the concert for the first time and Gemma also give a
great performance of 'Concertio de Aranjuez' accompanied by the band.
Rebecca sang a lovely solo item accompanied by Sharon on the piano and Ryan
and Jamie on cornet and trombone accompanied by their mother, Joan on piano,
gave a great performance of the Londonderry Air. Rodney performed a lovely
vocal solo of 'You Raise me up' accompanied by Ryan on piano and Michael
performed a nice solo accompanying himself on the acoustic guitar. A very
well supported raffle really put the seal on a brilliant night. Great
feedback after the event from everyone. |
| Saturday 21st February 2009-
The band attended the entertainment contest in the Valley Hotel
in Fivemiletown. We traveled down in cars for an early warm up in Murley
Silver's bandroom before our competition slot at 10.30pm, 1st band on stage
for the contest. The band played very well and indeed a special mention for
our soloist, Gemma, who performed the Concerto de Aranjuez . The full result
was 1st place St Mary's (Tempo) 119 points, 2nd place Dungannon Silver 118
points also best march and best soloist, 3rd place Poyntzpass 116 points.
There were five bands in the section. |
| On Friday 13th February Annual
Young Peoples Outing - at the Quays Shopping centre in Newry and
then to the Omniplex to see a film of their choice. |
| Annual Quiz Wednesday 11th February -
14 teams took part in this years annual table quiz . The quiz master was
Cyril Whiteside and the event was won by the team from LOL20. A raffle was
held during the event which was well supported. Supper was served to all at
the close of the event. |
| 5th February 2009 - Best wishes to
Band President, Edward Posnett, who today went through a quadruple heart
bypass operation at the RVH in Belfast. All members and friends in
Poyntzpass hope and pray for a speedy recovery and best wishes to Edward,
Geraldine and Stephen and family circle. |
