update 21 February 2012

My name is Glen and this is an open letter to all Norfolk Wherry Brass band members, supporters and followers.

For County Court settlement information click here

For my response to allegations made against me click here

I came to the Norfolk Wherry Brass when it was first started, in 2004. The band had no money or equipment, just a few very enthusiastic players and a few very willing helpers, me being one of those helpers. Please note that I have never been a Norfolk Wherry Brass member, just a very willing helper.

I don’t play a brass instrument, but I have other talents. The first major task I took on was to make all of the 32 bandstand banners. Norfolk Wherry Brass paid for the materials and I gave my labour for free. It took me three weeks, working 6 days a week, to design, cut out, stitch and embroider those banners, saving the band hundreds of pounds (which they didn’t have).

Having spent so much effort on making them, I have taken a pride in looking after them. I have stored the banners, flat, in a purpose-built box, brought them to all the concerts and have brushed and ironed them before and after concerts, as necessary.  If I say so myself, they were a credit to the band.

Someone else now has that task and they are just rolled up and stuffed into a sports bag. They are beginning to look quite shabby.

For those who came to the Norfolk Wherry Brass concerts, you will know me as the lady who sold you your raffle tickets (many of the prizes having been donated by me anyway) and who wandered around during the concert, trying not to get in your way, while I was taking the publicity photographs.

When not doing that I was, when appropriate, encouraging you to participate by getting you clapping, singing, waving flags, depending on the concert. Hopefully, this added to your enjoyment of the evening.

Some of you have been asking why I am no longer doing all this. Read on and you will find out.

Others will know me as the lady who stood outside the Hoveton branch of Roy’s of Wroxham on several Saturdays before Christmas each year, regardless of the weather, collecting your donations, while the Norfolk Wherry Brass band played carols. I was the one in the long green coat and silly red hat, looking rather like a Christmas tree.

Or you might have seen me doing the same thing outside Tesco’s in Stalham on Sundays. It was usually very, very cold, sometimes wet as well, but all good fun, so I didn’t mind.

I have also made the teas, put out and collected chairs at rehearsals and concerts and many of the other ‘little’ jobs that usually go unnoticed. All of this I have done very willingly and actually enjoyed.

No-one ever complained that I was doing too much. So when did it all go so wrong?

The Norfolk Wherry Brass band colours are black and gold. The band uniform is all black and, for about 3 years, there have been suggestions that the band should have gold waistcoats to brighten their appearance. Other matters have always taken priority until earlier this year (2010), when the committee asked me if I would look into the costing of getting waistcoats for the band.

There wasn’t enough money available to have them made by one of the usual uniform suppliers, so it was a question of finding both the right material and someone local to make the waistcoats, all at a cost the band could afford – not an easy task.

It took me about 10 days, and a lot of miles travelling plus telephone calls, to visit a number of material suppliers and contact people who might be able to make the waistcoats. I was eventually able to find the right colour and quality of material, at the right price.

The Norfolk Wherry Brass management committee were kept updated on the task and I provided them with various options – materials and prices to ensure any final decisions were down to the committee and not me personally.

I contacted a number of seamstresses, but they were all too expensive. Then one of the committee found someone suitable and arranged for her to attend a band rehearsal to take measurements.

I don’t ‘do’ computers, so my husband sent round an email, asking those members who could to come to the rehearsal a bit early to save some time re the measuring. 

In the past any uniform changes have always been decided upon by the committee.  In doing all the legwork to find options for the waistcoats I repeat I was specifically acting on the committee’s instructions, and would have expected the committee to make that clear to all members.

The next thing I know is that there are a number of emails being circulated around the band that I found absolutely offensive.  All my hard work on behalf of Norfolk Wherry Brass, which had been done at the request of the Norfolk Wherry Brass management committee, was being totally and publicly rubbished by people who didn’t bother to pick up a telephone to ask any questions first.

I haven’t put all those emails in this letter, but you can read some of them by clicking here.

Not once has the committee come to my defence. I have also received a very offensive and intimidating telephone call and email from a certain individual. Luckily my phone has a loudspeaker option which enabled two others to hear the phone call as it happened and part of the call has been recorded 

The two others were equally as shaken as I at such bullying behaviour.  The incident was reported to the committee, in writing, but it would appear they see nothing wrong in a band member behaving in such a shameful way, as they appear to have done nothing at all about it. The only response has been to acknowledge the complaint.

I have now been told, in an email, dated 25 November 2010, to my husband (please note, NOT to me), that I am not to “attend further band practices or engagements”.

This email came from the then chairman of Norfolk Wherry Brass, Alex Bishop, signed in his role as Divisional Director for Social Services, Anglia Divisional Headquarters of the Salvation Army. 

I have had no explanation from him whatsoever, despite two written requests. His first response was "Thank you for your comments, the content has been noted and will be raised at our next committee meeting." He hasn't bothered to reply to my second request.

I then received notification from the Norfolk Wherry Brass secretary that “It was decided that it would be inappropriate for Glen to attend any more rehearsals in order to avoid potential embarrassment both to herself, and other band members.”

Isn’t this considerate of the committee? So considerate that none of them mentioned this to me at the rehearsal I attended after the decision was made but before the exclusion notification was received.

The decision was taken on 16 November 2010 and I and my husband attended a rehearsal on 23 November 2010. I was not embarrassed to attend, nor did any of the band members seem to be embarrassed (except, perhaps, for Jim and Tracey, who left when they saw my husband and me there). The committee never asked me whether I wanted to continue with the band and, as far as I have been able to find out, none of the band members generally were asked, either.

So whose embarrassment are they trying to avoid? Their own, perhaps, as I would be a constant reminder to them (and certain others) of the way in which they have dealt with my husband and me, which you can learn more about here.

I have never been spoken to about my conduct. I have never been accused of any improper behaviour. So why am I being treated in this way? I really don't know.

It has been suggested that I have been “tarred with the same brush” as my husband. And I thought I was living in Britain, not China or Russia!

I will remind you of what I said at the start of this letter, I have never been a member of the Norfolk Wherry Brass band, just a very willing helper.

So if you were ever thinking of coming to Norfolk Wherry Brass to help out, think very, very carefully, because this is how you might be treated too.

Thank you for reading this.

Glen

Initially posted on 28 December 2010