The Spen Valley Scout & Guide Band are trying to research their history. This year Scouting in Spen Valley is 100 years old and Guiding is 50 years old.

Up until recently it has always been understood that the Spen Valley Scout & Guide band started in 1977 as the 9th Spen Valley Scout Band. That is until the photograph below was uncovered picturing the 9th Spen Valley Scout Band with drums and bugles taken in 1929.

Unfortunately there appears to be no history documenting the band so we need your help. Do you know anyone who was in the band? Do you recognise the picture and do you know anyone in it? If you can help the band find more out about our history then please contact us.

We’re very keen to find out about the history of banding in Spen Valley so any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Some interesting numbers and stats taken from the band and how good value we are compared to other music education sources.

If you are interested in joining us then visit our Join Us Page for more information

Which organisations, charities and public figures do you most admire? What could they bring to Scouting? The Scout Association needs your help with vital research to develop relationships with new partners, ambassadors and the next Chief Scout. They want to hear your views through a short survey, which is anonymous, confidential and easy to complete.

Click here for the survey

This Saturday the Spen Valley Scout & Guide Band will be playing at Wetherby Racecourse as part of the Girl Guiding UK celebrations for 100 years of Brownies.

Star Quest is an action packed day for Girl Guides of all ages, the band will be playing throughout the day entertaining the 11,500 people who are taking part in the event.

More information on the event can be found here:

http://girlguidingnortheast.org.uk/starquest 

https://www.facebook.com/Starquesterchallenge?ref=hl#

Joanna being presented with her award by Mike Terry, District Commissioner Spen Valley.
Picture courtesy of Ian White.

At this years St George’s day service band master Joanna Nelson was awarded The Award for Merit from the Scout Association.

Awards for good service are made by the Chief Scout to those that have given valuable service to Scouting over a considerable period. The criteria for The Award for Merit is as follows:

The Award for Merit is given for outstanding service of not less than 12 years and 10 years exceptionally.  It implies keen, conscientious, imaginative and dedicated service over a sustained period.

Well done Joanna and congratulations from all the band for a well deserved award.

The band has settled down into regular rehearsals preparing for what looks like a busy year coming up.

We have a number of events planned and a full contest season planned so there’s lot’s of hard work ahead.

Whilst the first public appearance for the band this year won’t be until 19th April when we’re playing at the Harrogate International Youth Festival the band is busy preparing for it’s contest season competing in the TYMBA Championship class once again this year.

The band will also be playing a large part in this years St George’s celebrations not only leading the parade but also playing a special part in the service itself.

You can keep up with the band over the next 12 months on the events page of our website and if you’d like to join in with what the band is doing why not pop along and see what we have on offer, for more information visit our join us page.

So have you made a New Years resolution? If it was to learn to play an instrument or to join a band to improve your playing then you are looking in the right place.

Spen Valley Scout & Guide Band are always on the lookout for new members so if you want to give it a go contact us on the join us page or come along to one of our rehearsals.

The band plays all over the UK at various events including some prestigious events including the Birmingham International Tattoo and London Lord Mayors Parade. It’s not all hard work, we also have fun and have an annual camp where we do fun and interesting activities that aren’t related to playing an instrument!

So what’s stopping you?

You don’t have an instrument… We can provide you one free of charge.

You don’t know what instrument you want to play… Don’t worry we can provide a number of instruments for you to try.

You can’t read music… Don’t worry we’ll teach you.

You’re not sure it’s for you… Well you’ll never know unless you come along!

Come and join us and make a New Years resolution that will stay with you for a lifetime.

The band would like to thank you all for your support over the past year.