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B&R - Whit Friday Results In
Nearly 120 brass bands took to the streets in the Saddleworth Area to march and perform their contest pieces in front of jovial crowds.
Conditions were ideal and the evening started well but the contest was overshadowed by a fatal accident at the Greenfield contest. A man died, and his son was injured, when they were hit by a coach and left trapped under the vehicle at the contest venue in Greenfield. The 57 year old suffered fatal injuries which happened at 10.00pm on Friday. His eight year old son was left with severe bruising and a broken tooth and is in hospital receiving treatment. There was also a serious accident near the Lees and Springhead contest, which required the air ambulance, and it impacted on a number of contests for a time.
B&R were actually marching and playing at Greenfield when stewards brought them to a halt with the news of the accident, the coach involved could be seen further along the road where the marching normally ends.
Under the circumstances B&R only managed to compete at seven contests, they had four first places at Grotton, Lydgate, Greenfield and Uppermill, one second place at Scouthead, a fifth at Greenacres and one sixth place at Delph, they also collected nine individual prizes. The best six results count towards the overall Saddleworth and Oldham Area Championship and B&R missed out by one point and finished in second place. They also scooped over £5,000 in prize money
50 Years Service to Banding Award
Euphonium player Sheridan Fryer, who has been a member of B&R for more than 30 years, has been honoured for his 50 years service to brass banding. He was presented with a special medal from the Huddersfield Brass Band Association, by their President Alan Kaye, at a B&R concert at St.Matthews Church, Rastrick, on the 15th May 2010.
Sheridan's banding history ...
‘I first started playing the trumpet at age 11, however a work colleague of my father, Ellery Ainley, who played Principal Cornet with Lockwood Band, was persuaded to give me some lessons and advised me to take up the cornet. Having played in the band at Colne Valley High School I decided to join Lockwood Band in 1958 on 2nd cornet. The bandmaster was Albert Robinson, who incidentally, had played with B&R in 1946. At rehearsal Albert would play cornet and conduct at the same time and to my amazement would do so at contests as well. After 4 years with Lockwood I was asked to join Linthwaite Band and spent the next 7 years playing 1st. Baritone and then Solo Euphonium under the conductor John Willie Morley. He was called Mr. Morley by all the players; such was the respect in which he was held.
In 1969 I joined B&R on 2nd Baritone; the bandmaster was Jim Hickman, a great band trainer, and man of dour wit. After a short spell on Euphonium I spent the next 9 years on 1st. Baritone.Notable successes were National Champions 1969 conducted by Walter Hargreaves and 1973 with James Scott at the helm, Granada Band of the Year 1975, James Scott again, and British Open Champions 1978 conducted by Geoffrey Brand. Of course, arguably the most famous event in B&R's history came in 1977, with the sensation that was The Floral Dance arranged and conducted by Derek Broadbent, with an appearance on Top of the Pops and several TV shows these were heady days.
In 1980 I decided to have a break from banding when our children James & Lindsay were young. However in 1983 I was persuaded to join Lindley Band conducted by my good friend Neil Jowett. There I played Solo Euphonium until 1989 when I rejoined B&R. Since returning on 2nd Euphonium I have also played 1st Baritone and 2nd Baritone. A real purple patch came in 1998 when under professional conductor Allan Withington B&R became English Masters Champions, European Champions and National Champions. In 1992 the band needed a music librarian so I volunteered and have been doing the job ever since. I find it very satisfying when things go well but frustrating when music goes missing or not returned.
I retired from playing in 2006 but intend to continue my service to B&R for as long as I am able’.
Thirty Years and Still Playing
Ian Dust, second horn player with Brighouse and Rastrick Band has just achieved a major milestone - been a playing member of the band for thirty years, making him one of the longest serving band members and also one of the most successful.
The band honoured this great achievement by hosting a dinner in his honour where he and his wife Zoe (pictured left) were joined by fellow players, committee members and also eleven special guests who were all former members of the band. Ian was presented with an Armani watch and his wife’s unfailing support was acknowledged when she was presented with a spectacular floral arrangement by Paul Beaumont the President of Brighouse and Rastrick Band.
Stephen Howes (pictured on Ian's right), Chair of B&R Trustees and Gilbert Symes (pictured on Ian's left) an ex B&R player both paid tribute to Ian’s dedication, professionalism and service to the band in a rousing, humorous style.
The band were relieved to hear that Ian has no intention of retiring from the band in the foreseeable future.
Yorkshire Regional Champions 2010!
Brighouse & Rastrick Band secured the title of Yorkshire Champions when they won the Yorkshire Brass Band Championships at Bradford’s St George’s Hall on Sunday March 7th. B&R gave a powerful and emotional performance of George Lloyd’s English Heritage; a test piece that tested every single member of the 13 competing bands. B&R’s principal euphonium player Steve Walsh won the Instrumentalist Award which was awarded by the adjudicators Derek Broadbent and C. Brian Buckley for outstanding musicianship. B&R last won the title in 2007
B&R will represent Yorkshire at the Royal Albert Hall; London in October at the National Finals which many think is the most prestigious contest in the banding calendar.
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery were runners up and will also be invited to London along with Black Dyke Band and Rothwell Temperance who are invited as a result of last year’s placings.
Paul Beaumont, President of B&R commented ‘the Band gave a fabulous and hugely musical performance of this extremely difficult test piece. This was Professor King’s first Yorkshire Regional Contest at the helm of B&R and this momentous victory bodes well for the upcoming contest season. Every player in the Band gave their all on the contest stage and has done over the last 10 weeks during which the band has been preparing for the contest. I am very proud of their achievements but it is no more than they deserve; they are a massively talented team’.
Black Dyke Band was 4th in the contest and Grimethorpe Colliery 5th.