Chair’s Message

As I look around at all the sub-groups working within HarmonicaUK, I am simply amazed as to how much progress is being made in so many areas. Our IT and rebranding projects are on course to be launched in the summer. I shall report much more about this in the August edition. The editorial team is in a constant state of evolution, with many new initiatives coming from this team, too. I am pleased to report that recently Dave Colclough and Sam Spranger have joined the day to day running of the editorial team, taking this team up to six members. Dave Hambley is chairing the virtual Chromatic Weekend subcommittee. Their achievements have been very impressive, and a truly world-class international Celebration of the Chromatic Harmonica is coming our way on 18–20 June. As a committee, we have decided to make our October festival virtual again this year. There are just too many unknowns at the moment to do anything else. However, what is certain is it will be a festival to remember and of that, I am sure. It seems hard to believe that we have already passed our first anniversary of lockdown sessions and coffee mornings. I think that without a doubt, these sessions have got to be up there as the big success stories of the past year. Sammy Boy Wilkinson has covered this in more detail in this edition.

In the last edition, I invited you to meet the Executive Committee of HUK. In this edition, I am introducing the rest of our

Committee.

Finally, it is with a heavy heart to report that Dave Taylor has decided to step down from the committee. In recent years Dave has been Secretary, and Editor of Harmonica World. Dave’s passion and enthusiasm were there for all to see. On behalf of everyone at HUK, I would like to thank Dave for all of his hard work. I am, however, thrilled to report that Dave will continue as a helper at our live festivals. Happy harping,

Best wishes Pete