NEWMILNS & GALSTON BRASS BAND
Gill Sherry
Newmilns & Galston Brass Band is one of the oldest surviving brass bands in Scotland, its origins dating back over 190 years. AM caught up with the band’s secretary, Claire Kimm, to find out more about this long-standing local institution.
How long have you been involved with the band?
Eleven years. I’ve been secretary for nine years.
What instrument do you play?
The tenor horn.
What can you tell me about the history of the band?
It was an amalgamation of different bands from the Irvine Valley. It’s had various forms. It obviously wasn’t called Newmilns & Galston Brass Band at the very start. There’s a couple of people still in the band that were involved with those early days. In our band hall there’s a lot of memorabilia and photographs on the wall. It’s one of the longest running brass bands in Scottish brass band history.
How does it work when it comes to contesting?
You have to be regulated with the Scottish Brass Band Association to play in the competitions. The band’s had a lot of success over the years. We take part in contests all over Scotland and sometimes further afield, the main one being the Scottish Championships which is held in March every year. We came fourth in Perth this year out of ten, so that secured our place in the first section.
How many sections are there?
We’re in the first section. There’s one section above us which is the Championship, then there’s the First, Second, Third and Fourth.
How many members do you have?
We’ve got 35 players on the books and average attendance is good, but some members don’t necessarily come to every rehearsal. The standard format for a brass band is 25 brass players and three percussion players.
Do you also have a youth band?
It’s on hold at the moment, unfortunately. There are lots of young people in the area that play… but it’s on hold with a view to kicking it all back off again. When that will be, we’re not sure.
What is the age range of the band?
The youngest is 16 and the oldest is 84.
How often do you practice?
We practice twice a week in our own band hall in Newmilns.
What kind of events do you play at?
We take part in a lot of valley events, and we do a lot of gala days in the summer season. We have good connections with local community groups, like Darvel Cycling Group and Love Newmilns, and we’ve done performances for Hurlford Community Centre. If we have our own concerts we try and have them in local churches to give them support. We also have quite good links with Harelaw Farm Weddings in Fenwick. We do an event every year, an Oktoberfest Oompah Band which is fun for the members. We’re always looking for different things to take part in… things you maybe wouldn’t associate a traditional brass band with.
How do you raise funds?
We rely on membership fees and income generated from concerts and competitions. We have supporters that give us donations annually, and we do fundraising. We also apply for local grants that are available.
Can anyone join, or do they have to play to a certain standard?
Our door is always open. We had someone recently that gave up ten years ago but wanted to get back into it. We wouldn’t necessarily take learners, although when our youth band is back up and running, we’d happily take adult learners. We try to cater for anyone that’s interested.
Is the band available for hire?
Yes. If anyone would be interested in booking the band, it’s a very versatile group of musicians. There are lots of really talented people in the band. We’ve also got a quartet that can play at weddings. We’re always on the lookout for new engagements so if anyone thinks that a brass band or part of a brass band might be suitable for an event, just get in touch.
How do they contact you?
Via Facebook (Newmilns and Galston Brass Band), email newmilnsandgalstonband@yahoo.com
or call Claire on 07967 810042.
