4BR has been informed that the Butlin’s Mineworkers Open National Brass Band Festival has announced that from its 2014 contest onwards, it will only accept registration cards issued by the new Brass Band Players registry.

Preserving integrity

Festival Director Steve Walker, said that the move from accepting cards from both Brass Band Players (BBP) and the British Brass Band Registry, to only accepting registration cards issued by BBP from 2014, had been taken after much consideration and in the interests of preserving the integrity of brass band competition.

He commented: "This issue has divided the brass band nation for some months, but it has become increasingly clear that a level playing field of brass band competition can only be served by one accredited registry for all competitions, and just over 99% of those bands entering the 2013 Butlin’s Festival are now registered with BBP."

Butlin’s also feels equally responsible about the future of brass banding in Britain and is acting accordinglySteve Walker

Level playing field

He added: "I, Stan Lippeatt and Brian Eggleshaw of the Butlin’s Festival met with Philip Morris and Nicola Bland of the National Championships, and were reassured that they are genuinely striving to preserve the level playing field of brass band competition, which is allied to the future health of brass bands.

Butlin’s also feels equally responsible about the future of brass banding in Britain and is acting accordingly. Our organisation is now looking forward to playing a significant part in the new Advisory Panel being established by Brass Band Players."

Delighted

Commenting on Butlin’s move, Philip Morris, of the National Championships told 4BR: "We are delighted that the Butlin’s organisation has agreed to only use BBP cards from 2014.

It represents a major piece of clarification for competing bands and is an important step towards rationalising registration in England with one accredited Brass Band Players registry."