Farewell to Alan Edmond
Alan Edmond, Development Officer of the Scottish Brass Band Association for the past 5 years, is emigrating to Australia. Alan alerted the SBBA office bearers to the possibility some time ago, and we have jointly been preparing for his departure to ensure a smooth transition. We are very sorry that he is leaving, but we understand why and wish him and his family all the best for the future.
Alan explained the reason for his move: "My wife Laura has been offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to move to Melbourne with one of Australia's top recruitment companies, which she could not turn down. We will be sad to leave behind all our friends and family in the brass band world. I have been involved with the SBBA Committee since 1994 and have seen many changes in that time. The last five years as the Development Officer has been a fantastic experience, which I have enjoyed immensely. I am delighted to have been asked by SBBA to continue in an advisory role when I go to Australia and will be working with the SBBA Office Bearers to find my replacement, who will be able to take the SBBA development plan to the next level. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Office Bearers and all the SBBA Committee for their fantastic support in the last five years and wish them continued success for the future".
Said George Burt, President of SBBA "Alan's work has been one of the key elements in the banding revolution we are delivering in Scotland. When we were awarded a development grant from the Scottish Arts Council 5 years ago, it was on the basis that we'd create two new youth bands in the first year. In fact it was 10 new bands, and overall we've created some 45 new bands, all thanks to Alan's hard work, dedication and inspiration. He will be a great loss to banding in Scotland, but Australia will be the beneficiary. I know I will greatly miss him as a colleague and a friend".
Alan has also had key inputs to the development of the brass band community as a whole in Scotland over the past five years, including networking and collaborating with many agencies, our innovative conducting course, and groundbreaking modernisation of the running of contests and other events.
The structure of SBBA is robust, and development work will continue to be delivered by our Area Associations and our part-time Regional Development Officers (a new, evolutionary development initiative), as well as our Events committee and Education and Youth Committee..
SBBA will continue its development programme of access and excellence for youth and mainstream bands, and to innovate in terms of the way banding is run in Scotland. An advertisement will shortly appear in the banding media and elsewhere for a Development Manager who will deliver our youth programme and manage our 5 part-time Regional Development Officers. Alan will work with the new appointee in his remaining time here and will be available for advice and consultation when in Australia.
One of the projects we are planning is a Training Manual for development work in banding, based on our successful results (with both positive and negative lessons) over the past five years. With his huge wealth of experience, Alan will contribute considerably to this publication which will be used in Scotland by our Area Associations, Regional Development Officers and bands; we will also make it available outside Scotland.
For further information, please contact :
George Burt 07785 258182
Alan Edmond 0786 754 0435
