News Desk

NEWSDESK

Exciting times for HarmonicaUK as we find different ways of communicating in a more instantaneous way. Our very enthusiastic and capable team are Gary Newman, Laina Freeman, and Suzy Colclough, with input from HarmonicaUK Editor Barry Elms and Gene Myers’ guidance on communications strategy. As part of a 12 month trial we will be publishing our popular Harmonica World quarterly. This will be boosted by a series of news releases and broadcasts across a range of media to ensure we optimise visibility of HarmonicaUK. The Newsdesk team will be collating, reviewing and organising information and stories daily for our website, social media and new monthly newsletter. After a year working with the magazine team I can fully appreciate the drain on them. Once the magazine lands on your doormats it’s full steam ahead to start the next. So I needed to find a way to retain their talents whilst giving them some downtime but still increase our communications in a more modern way. The bottom line for me was not to risk losing an overstretched team to burnout. This is only a 12 month trial to see how things are going, and then we can reflect. Once established, I hope that members, players, and top artists worldwide will see Newsdesk as the One Stop Shop and inform us of imminent radio shows, TV appearances, gigs etc. Reflecting on the past year, we have a new magazine team, with the highest quality magazine in hardcopy. This is also available electronically and reformatted for the visually impaired. I feel this is a massive achievement in just 12 months. Please rest assured that the quarterly magazine in all formats is here to stay.

Now let me introduce the team:

Susie Colclough

I would like to think I am a fun-loving, happy person with a caring nature. Before I lost my sight at the age of 24, I worked for Barclays Bank. Following this, I trained for seven years in numerous therapies which resulted in my being a holistic therapist treating mind and body. I love playing the chromatic harmonica as well as walking with my guide dog, socialising, attending live music events, and I’m a prolific reader.

I’m originally from Essex, but moved to Norfolk five years ago and

I’m loving it. I had a very varied career, starting as a soldier and finishing up as a probation officer, retiring early through ill health. I am a family man, very happily married to Sandra for almost forty years, with two sons and four grandchildren. I love football (Gillingham fan) and music - playing harmonica (mainly diatonic), guitar, bass and keyboards.

Laine Freeman

As a relatively new chromatic player, I'm excited to join Newsdesk where I hope to bring some of my sales & marketing skills gained during my working life. Now retired, I love living by the sea with my wife and 2 Burmese cats. We have a wildlife garden with a visiting young vixen who listens to my practice with curiosity. I enjoy cooking and horse riding.

Gene Myers

My father played country harmonica, and when I first saw James

Cotton play in 1977, I became hooked. I've had a few timeconsuming careers, which brought me from the US to England 25 years ago and have absorbed most of my time, but in recent years, I've rekindled my passion for playing blues harp. I live in Brighton with Sue, my partner, and we both enjoy attending live music events and travelling.

HarmonicaUK needs you!

As part of our evolutionary phase which we are currently in, we are trying to build future proofing into our organisation. We are in need of volunteers to help in a few areas of the day-to-day running of HarmonicaUK and some specific projects. If you have any spare time and could help in any of the following areas we would love to hear from you, please email chair@harmonica.co.uk

• Events organisation; • Copywriting/editing; • Graphic design; • Membership management; • Book keeping; • Photography/image management.