June 2024
The tenth Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 26 June 2024, followed by Chris Newman giving an excellent talk on Nat Gonella.
Main points arising from the AGM:
a) The Financial Statement for years 2023/24 was accepted. The Club continues to be in a reasonably healthy financial position.
b) Membership Fees for 2024/25 remain unchanged (since January 2022) at £10 and Gig fees of £10 for members and £12 for guests. However, band costs are rising due to increased costs (particularly with very high vehicle fuel prices, which disproportionately impacts on bands’ travel costs) and the Committee will continue to review the situation with the possibility of increased band costs.
The new Membership Secretary (see below) will soon be accepting your subscriptions for 2024/25 – these are due to be paid by 31 August.
c) John O’Keefe was elected as the Vice-Chair, a role which was previously vacant.
d) Malcolm Swire has retired as Membership Secretary and Roger Lygoe has taken over this role plus continuing with the Attendance role, although some adjustments to the latter job are likely. Malcolm remains Webmaster.
The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. For details see the Contact page.
June 2024
We very much regret to announce the passing on 31 May of Sue Pheasant, Secretary of Gosport Jazz Club for several years, and known for her approving pronouncements of ‘proper jazz’ – a high accolade for any band. Our sincere condolences to husband Vic, past-Chair of the Club on his sad loss. The funeral service will be held at St John’s Church, Purbrook [https://www.stjohnspurbrook.org.uk/find-us/] at noon on Friday 5 July, followed by burial in Sue’s hometown of Malmesbury. The committee hope as many as possible from the Club who knew Sue will be at Purbrook on 5 July.
October 2023
Terry Hinkley, Honorary President of Gosport Jazz Club. The club very much regrets having to announce the passing on 16 October of Terry and send their sincere condolences to his wife, Anne. He kept the Club running for 5 years from 2007, after Tony Wing relinquished that task, until 2012, when ill health forced him to relinquish it and the committee-led Club took over.
The funeral will be held at South Downs Natural Burial Site, The Sustainability Centre, Droxford Road, East Meon, Petersfield, GU32 1HR at 11am on Wednesday 8 November. The family request that people do not wear black and that any donations should be in lieu of flowers to Marie Curie (https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/donate) whose carers looked after him so well over his last week.
September 2023
Sad to report the death of trombonist John Davidson, who last played at the Club with Chris Newman’s Georgia Ramblers in February 2023 and before that for many years with various versions of Featherstone.
And Phil Durrell who played banjo with the Sussex Jazz Kings for many years.
And Bill Phelan who led the Phelan Muskrat on Trumpet.
August 2023
The ninth Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 16 August 2023 (delayed from its original date of 19 July) followed by Chris Newman giving an excellent talk on Jazz History entitled ‘JAZZ – Capturing the Moment’.
Main points arising:
a) The Financial Statement for years 2022/23 was accepted. The Club continues to be in a reasonably healthy financial position considering the reduced membership and attendance at gigs following the pandemic.
b) Membership Fees for 2023/24 remain unchanged (since January 2022) at £10 and Gig fees of £10 for members and £12 for guests. However, band costs are rising due to the current high inflation rate (particularly with very high vehicle fuel prices, which disproportionately impacts on bands’ travel costs) and the Committee will continue to review the situation. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2023/24.
c) Jan Almond has retired as Chair and Andrew Gaisford was elected as her successor. The jobs of Membership Secretary and Attendance Secretary, (both previously held by Malcolm Swire) have been separated and Roger Lygoe is now Attendance Secretary. Malcolm remains Membership Secretary and Webmaster. The position of Vice-Chair is vacant and nominations are welcomed. The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. For details see the Contact page.
There are photos of the presentations made on the AGM Photo page.
November 2022
We very much regret to announce, after a long illness, the passing on 4 November of a Club favourite, Dave Stradwick, cornet player extraordinaire. Dave had played at the Club no less than thirteen times since records began in 2009, twelve of them as leader of the Sussex Jazz Kings, the most recent in February this year. He will be sorely missed.
Also, the passing on 16 November, Joe Croll, who ran the New Yellow Dog Jazz Club at Eastleigh for many years and was a frequent guest at Gosport. Joe and Dave also together ran annual Jazz Boat Cruises from Southampton to Cowes and back (see the photos on the EVENTS & LINKS page), so it is especially poignant that they should die within two weeks of each other
from 2007 until 2012 wmany years after Tony Wing relinquished that task
September 2023
Sad to report the death of trombonist John Davidson, who last played at the Club with Chris Newman’s Georgia Ramblers in February 2023 and before that for many years with various versions of Featherstone.
And Phil Durrell who played banjo with the Sussex Jazz Kings for many years.
And Bill Phelan who led the Phelan Muskrat on Trumpet.
August 2023
The ninth Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 16 August 2023 (delayed from its original date of 19 July) followed by Chris Newman giving an excellent talk on Jazz History entitled ‘JAZZ – Capturing the Moment’.
Main points arising:
a) The Financial Statement for years 2022/23 was accepted. The Club continues to be in a reasonably healthy financial position considering the reduced membership and attendance at gigs following the pandemic.
b) Membership Fees for 2023/24 remain unchanged (since January 2022) at £10 and Gig fees of £10 for members and £12 for guests. However, band costs are rising due to the current high inflation rate (particularly with very high vehicle fuel prices, which disproportionately impacts on bands’ travel costs) and the Committee will continue to review the situation. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2023/24.
c) Jan Almond has retired as Chair and Andrew Gaisford was elected as her successor. The jobs of Membership Secretary and Attendance Secretary, (both previously held by Malcolm Swire) have been separated and Roger Lygoe is now Attendance Secretary. Malcolm remains Membership Secretary and Webmaster. The position of Vice-Chair is vacant and nominations are welcomed. The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. For details see the Contact page.
There are photos of the presentations made on the AGM Photo page.
November 2022
We very much regret to announce, after a long illness, the passing on 4 November of a Club favourite, Dave Stradwick, cornet player extraordinaire. Dave had played at the Club no less than thirteen times since records began in 2009, twelve of them as leader of the Sussex Jazz Kings, the most recent in February this year. He will be sorely missed.
Also, the passing on 16 November, Joe Croll, who ran the New Yellow Dog Jazz Club at Eastleigh for many years and was a frequent guest at Gosport. Joe and Dave also together ran annual Jazz Boat Cruises from Southampton to Cowes and back (see the photos on the EVENTS & LINKS page), so it is especially poignant that they should die within two weeks of each other
September 2022
We very much regret to announce the passing on 23 August after a long illness of long-time Club member and avid jazz aficionado Maurice Kemp. The funeral is at Portchester Crematorium at 10:45 on Monday 26 September with a wake starting at 1pm at the Bayside Cabin, Stokes Bay Road, Gosport.
July 2022
The eighth Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 17 July 2022 (there were no AGMs due to Covid in 2020 & 2021), followed by Chris Newman giving an excellent talk on Jazz History entitled ‘More Jazz on Celluloid‘
Main points arising from the AGM:
a) Financial Statement for years 2020/21 and 2021/22 were accepted. The Club continues to be in a reasonably healthy financial position, although we continue to suffer reduced membership and attendance at gigs following the pandemic.
b) Membership Fees for 2022/23 remain unchanged (since January 2022) at £10 and Gig fees of £10 for members and £12 for guests. However, band costs are rising due to the current high inflation rate (particularly with very high vehicle fuel prices, which disproportionately impacts on bands’ travel costs) and the Committee will continue to review the situation. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2022/23.
c) Following the resignation of Vic Pheasant as Chair and Sue Pheasant as Hon.. Secretary in September 2021, Jan Almond was elected Chair with Andrew Gaisford as Vice-Chair and Lesley Lygoe as Hon. Secretary. The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. For details see the Contact page.
There is a photo of a presentation on the AGM Photo page.
December 2021
It is regretted that due to greatly reduced attendance since the re-start in September 2021, following Covid restrictions since March 2020, that the Committee has decided to increase Gig entrance fees from January2022. The new fees are increased from £7.00 to £10.00 per Member and from £10.00 to £12.00 for Guests.
17 October 2020
Sad also to report the death of trumpeter Bill Harvey who last played at the Club with Dory’s Riverside Ramblers in January 2022. They will now .
12 May 2020
Sad also to report the death of John Baynes, who played double bass and bass sax with Bob Dwyer’s bands. Last seen at the Club in September 2019, John & Brenda Bugg recall that he could play any instrument and was on Roy Castle’s TV programme in which he played 11 different instruments joined up by electronic wizardry so it looked like he was in a big jazz band – but every one was him playing simultaneously. He will be missed.
10 May 2019
As some of you may know, trombonist, latterly drummer, and for 60 years the leader of the Savoy Jazz Band, Barry Palsar, passed away on Monday 4th May. Barry had suffered a severe stroke in October and had never really made any recovery, despite the efforts of the nursing/rehabilitation hospital staff.
Barry’s funeral is on Monday 18th May at 0925. Sadly, due to the current Covid 19 restrictions, attendees are limited to only 10 family members. However, it will be possible to view the funeral on your computer by a streaming service provided by the funeral directer. To view this, you will need to be provided with an access code for your computer. So, if you wish to view the live streaming of Barry service, you must contact Barry’s son Simon to be added to the list. Places are limited so you need to take action soonest. Simon would prefer you to contact him by e-mail: simon.palsar@btinternet.com. He can be contacted by phone at: 01353 741916.
18 JULY 2019
The seventh Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 17 July 2019, followed by Chris Newman giving an excellent talk on Jazz History entitled ‘Jazz on Celluloid’
Main points arising from the AGM:
a) Financial Statement for year 2018/19 accepted. The Club continues to be in a healthy financial position
b) Membership Fees for 2019/20 remain unchanged at £10 (membership) and Gig fees of £7 for members and £10 each Gig for guests. However, band costs are rising and the Committee continue to review the situation with the possibility of a rise in fees during the next year. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2019/20.
c) The composition of the Committee is unchanged except that the meeting agreed that Roger Lygoe joins as support for the Webmaster and Lesley Lygoe as support for the Hon. Secretary. See the Contact page.
There are some photos of the presentations on the AGM Photo page.
26 JUNE 2019
EDDIE WOTTON – Very sad to say that, before the gig started, long-time Club member Eddie Wotton (age 94) collapsed and, despite valiant attempts to revive him, died.
Our thoughts are with his partner Carole, family and friends.
8 MARCH 2019
PETER ALMOND – We again very much regret to announce the passing of the husband of the Vice-Chair and respected member of the Club, on Sunday 3 March in Northcott Nursing Home wife present. The funeral is on Thursday 21 March at 2:30 pm at Portchester Crematorium, Fareham, PO16 8NE, followed by a wake at Gosport Community Association, Bury Road, Gosport PO12 3PX. Members are welcome to attend.
15 November 2018
JOHN WARD – We again very much regret to announce the passing of this long-standing and respected member of the Club, on 4 November at home with his grandson present. The funeral is on Thursday 29 November at 10am at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Bells Lane, Stubbington, PO14 2PL, followed by a wake at The Crofton, Crofton Lane, Hill Head, PO14 3QF. Members are welcome to attend.
23 August 2018
TERRY NASH – We very much regret to announce the passing of this long-standing and respected member of the Club. The following tribute is by his daughter Fiona: “Bye to Terry Nash, our dear Muppet. Following a heart attack and short stay in QA Hospital, Terry Nash passed away peacefully in his sleep, 16th August. He was 81, close to 82 years old.”
The funeral will be held at 1pm on Thursday 6 September at Portchester Crematorium followed by a wake at Gosport & Fareham Rugby Club. All Club members are invited to attend.
NAT GONELLA – Gosport was fortunate to have been the home, since the early 1970s, of the legendary trumpet player, Nat Gonella. He was a member of the Club for most of that time, until his untimely death in 1998 (and now, regretfully, one of those caught up in the investigation by the police of premature deaths at the Gosport War Memorial Hospital).
19 July 2018
The sixth Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 18 July 2018, with entertainment by Chris Walker following – an excellent biography of Nat King Cole.
Main points arising from the AGM:
a) Financial Statement for year 2017/18 accepted. The Club continues to be in a healthy financial position albeit slightly less mainly due to having two free gigs in the year.
b) Membership Fees for 2018/19 remain unchanged at £10 (membership) and Gig fees of £7 for members and £10 each Gig for guests. However, band costs are rising and the Committee continue to review the situation with the possibility of a rise in fees during the next year. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2018/19.
c) The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. All details are on the Contact page.
There are some photos of the presentations on the AGM Photo page
23 July 2017
The fifth Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 19 July 2017 commencing at 7:30pm followed by entertainment by Chris Walker – an excellent biography of Ella Fitzgerald. Main points arising from the AGM:
a) Financial Statement for year 2016/17 accepted. The Club continues to be in a healthy financial position.
b) Membership Fees for 2017/18 remain unchanged at £10 (membership) and Gig fees of £7 for members and £10 each Gig for guests. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2017/18.
c) The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. All details are on the Contact page.
There are some photos of the presentations on the AGM Photos page.
28 July 2016
The fourth Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 27 July 2016 commencing at 7:30pm followed by entertainment by Chris Walker – a biography of Duke Ellington. Main points arising from the AGM:
a) Financial Statement for year 2015/16 accepted. The Club continues to be in a healthy financial position.
b) Membership Fees for 2016/17 remain unchanged at £10 (membership) and Gig fees of £10 each Gig for guests but Gig fees for Members are reduced from £8 to £7 per member from the first gig in September 2016. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2016/17.
c) The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. All details are on the Contact page.
There are some photos of the presentations on the AGM Photos page
16 July 2015
The third Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 15 July 2015 commencing at 7:30pm followed by entertainment by Chris Walker – biography of Benny Goodman. Main points arising:
a) Financial Statement for year 2014/15 accepted. The Club continues to be in a healthy financial position.
b) Membership and Gig fees for 2015/16 remain unchanged at £10 (membership) and £8 per Gig for members and £10 for guests. The Membership Secretary is now accepting your subscriptions for 2015/16.
c) The Club regretfully accepted Jim Bevington’s resignation as Hon. Treasurer with thanks for all his work over the last three years. Tim King volunteered to take on the office and this was unanimously accepted by the meeting.
d) The composition of the remainder of the Committee is unchanged. All details are on the Contact page.
5 March 2015
A very successful Seventeenth Nat Gonella Tribute evening was held on 5 March royally entertained by Gerry Brown’s Mission Hall Jazz Band. The Club was honoured by the presence of the Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Keith Gill, and Mayoress, Eira Gill, the former presenting Nat Gonella’s Clarinet which has been obtained by the Club to Erica Munro, Curator of Hampshire Cultural Trust, for eventual display at Gosport Discovery Centre. Watch this space for news of when it goes on display.
28 August 2013
A milestone has been reached in that the Club has now successfully completed a year under the new arrangements. Thanks go to all members and visitors to gigs for your continued support – please keep coming to gigs as often as you can but the main thing is to enjoy the trad jazz provided. We’re always open to your ideas for improving it.
17 August 2013
After a sterling and successful effort in organising the Club in its present form following Terry Hinkley relinquishing running it, Andrew Gaisford announced at the AGM that he wished to stand down as Chairman and nominated Vic Pheasant as his successor. This was unanimously agreed and Vic has now assumed the responsibilities as Chairman. This was the only change to the Officers and committee members. See the details on the Contact page.
Malcolm Swire is now taking membership subscriptions for the 2013/14 season at £20.00 per member.
19 July 2013
The first Annual General Meeting was held on 3 July with an attendance of 46, followed by a showing of a video by Chris Newman of early Jazz in Chicago. One important decision taken is a reduction in Gig Fees from September 2013 which are down from £9 to £8 for members and from £11 to £10 for for non-members.
22 March 2013
A new date for your diary – the first Annual General Meeting will be held at G & F Ruby Club on Wednesday 10 July starting at 7:30. Here’s the chance for members to hear from the committee how the Club is doing in its first year of their management and to tell them what they think, propose changes and vote on what officers and committee they want running the Club in 2013-2014.
4 March 2013
Nat Gonella’s daughter Natalie has told us that there is a proposal for a plaque in Nat’s honour to be placed in Edward Square, where he was born, in the London Borough of Islington as part of their Islington People’s 2013 scheme.
But there are 10 nominations (including Nat, wrestler Jackie Pallo, actor Jean Simmons, boxer Len Harvey, cartoonist Ronal Giles and scientist Sir Michael Faraday) and only the three highest votes are awarded plaques. Total voting last year was 3600 with the winning three getting 599, 568 and 418 votes so your vote, each of you individual members and whoever else you can persuade to vote, can make a difference and ensure Nat is suitably honoured. This could include casting a vote on behalf of fellow Jazz Club Members who want to vote but who don’t have access to the internet.
3 October 2012
We’ve settled into the new routine which started in September with the Membership and dual gig fees of £9 for members and £11 for guests. There are 70 members enrolled but we always need more and are still seeking a Publicity Secretary – any volunteers?
11 August 2012:
At the Gig on Wednesday 8 August it was announced that Tony Wing and Terry Hinkley are now, at the invitation of the Committee, Honorary Joint Presidents of the Club.
27 July 2012:
We very much regret to report the death earlier today of John Pittard, a long-standing supporter and member of the Club.
A meeting of the Committee was held on 25 July at which it was confirmed that Gig Fees for members will remain at £9 for the foreseeable future but, to encourage membership, it was decided that the fee for non-members will be £11 per gig. This will apply from the first Gig of the new Club year, 5 September 2012.
Vicky Newman was co-opted onto the Committee as Events Co-ordinator.
On 25 July a further 12 people paid their membership for 2012/13, giving a total of 56 members. However, there’s still plenty of room for those who haven’t yet joined! Please support your local Jazz Club by signing up.
14 July 2012:
At the gig on 11 July a total of 44 paid their £20 Membership Fee for 2012-13. Thanks go to all of those and to those who attended the gig and showed their support for continuation of the Club. Colin Kingwell’s Po’ Boys really entertained us.
After further consideration it has been decided not to increase the Gig fees in September and they will remain at £9 per member and £10 for non-members.
7 July 2012
A meeting was held on Wed 5 July at the Rugby Club attended by 24 people. The following were elected to serve on a committee to run the Club.
Chair – Andrew Gaisford
Vice-Chair – Jan Almond
Treasurer – Jim Bevington
Secretary – Heather Kerriemuir-Charlton
Bookings Secretary – Chris Newman
Membership Secretary & Webmaster – Malcolm Swire
Vicky Newman also volunteered to help with publicity and to act as the setting-up co-ordinator/contact.
However,
we are seeking a Publicity Secretary – If you are willing to take this
on, or know someone else who could do it, please contact Andrew
Gaisford.
It was also decided that we would in future have a more formal membership system whereby an annual Membership Fee would be charged running from 1 September to 31 August each year. The fee in September 2012 will be £20.00 per member. From 5 September (Tony Robinson’s Jazz Aces) entry to Gigs will charged at £10.00 per member and £12.00 for non-members. Gigs are booked until December (see the Gigs page for details).
The support of you all is required for this to succeed. This really is the last chance if Gosport Jazz Club is to continue – If not enough sign on as Members or you don’t attend Gigs the Club will inevitably fold.
So please sign up – Malcolm Swire will start enrolling members at the next Gig on 11 July and Jim Bevington will take your money, but the new Gig charges will not apply until 5 September.”
A list of new Gigs from 27 June to 22 August has been added to the Gigs 2012 page. Please support the Club by offering to help and by attending Gigs.
For the Club’s Policy and Disclaimer on Privacy and Copyright see the attached Statement in Word or PDF Format.