AT THE recent AGM of Launceston Town Band, the chairman, Mike Warne, thanked musical director Colin Gay and Ann Brown for ensuring that the band had been able to fulfil all its engagements in 2015 despite some difficulties.

He said there was a small but hardworking committee supporting him but several people were doing two or more jobs and he would like to see more players, parents and spouses and partners of players playing a more active part in the running of the band.

He congratulated William Tucker on designing and running a new website and becoming the CATS young volunteer of the year as a result.

Mike had prepared the accounts this year and Nigel Chadd had audited and certified them. Financially the band had done much better in 2015 with total income of £19,379 against expenses of £13,543, a surplus of £5,836 in place of the deficits in 2013 and 14.

One reason for the surplus was a significant improvement from the Wednesday lunches thanks to Ann and her helpers. The other was more money from grants and donations although two of these were unlikely to be repeated. The band had, however, used the surplus to buy two new tenor horns in January so they had to continue working to raise money.

Colin reported on a mixed year musically. Although the band had fulfilled its engagements, it had often had to borrow players from other bands. He made an appeal to organisations wishing to book the band to do so in good time.

The band entered the regional contest this month and had played well and obtained a creditable result with an inexperienced band.

The following committee was elected: chairman, supporters’ club organiser and gift aid — Mike Warne; vice-chairman and engagements secretary — Ann Brown; general secretary — Sheila Lashmar; treasurer and training band liaison — Sue Manzi; librarian — Steve Brown; contests secretary — Lisa Dymond; solo and quartet contest secretaries — Sue and Andrew Pitt; bonus ball — Alison Lea; bandroom site manager — Brian Balsdon; trophy officer — Jeanette Neale, webmaster — William Tucker; training band librarians — Jade Levis and Mary Manzi. Colin Gay continues on the committee ex officio.