The Douglas Colliery was sited at Rigside on the banks of Douglas Water in Lanarkshire. The band was active from 1883 through to the late 1950’s. Its conductor was Mr Paterson in 1886. Secretary W.W. Muir, treasurer John Hunter in 1904.
It was originally known as Rigside Brass Band, and as Douglas Colliery Brass Band from 1900. Later it was also known as Douglas Water [Colliery] Brass Band.
Douglas Colliery Silver Band – 1923
In 1901 the band was reconstituted, buying a new set of instruments costing £220, with uniforms and other instruments bringing the total up to £280. By April 1904 £217 had been paid off, and a bazaar was organised to raise funds to clear the deficit, which it managed quite handsomely – making a total of £210.
It successfully promoted a contest at Lanark Racecourse on 15 July 1901, at which six bands competed (Cleland – 1st, Bo’ness & Carriden – 2nd, Milnwood – 3rd, Broxburn – 3rd, Coltness, and Quarter), with over 3,000 people in attendance. It followed this with a second contest in July 1902 at Burghland Park, Lanark, which attracted eight bands, and once again in 1903.
Douglas Colliery Silver Band – 1928
It undertook a “North Tour” in July 1929 to Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Morayshire, Nairnshire, and Invernesshire under the baton of resident conductor James Davidson.
The full itinerary of their tour, which included many concerts was:
Saturday 13th July – Leave Douglas Water at 11am, arrive at 2.30pm Gourock House, Gourock. Afternoon performance at 3. Evening at 7. Special Tea arranged for Band at Gourock House at 9pm. Charge per man 2/2d. Leave Gourock at 10pm, arrive at Huntly on Sunday between 8 and 9am. Breakfast arranged on arrival.
Sunday 14th July – Leave Huntly at 2.15pm, arrive Keith at 2.45pm. Keith to Nairn 1¾ hours.
Monday 15th July – Leave Huntly at 1.45pm, arrive Turriff at 2.30pm. Turriff to Macduff ½ hour. Macduff to Banff only a few minutes. Tea at 5pm, Potter’s Bakery, Banff.
Tuesday 16th July – Leave Huntly at 10.30am, arrive Dingwall at 2.30pm. Dingwall to Beauly ½ hour. Beauly to Inverness ½ hour. Tea at 5.30pm, La Scala Picture House, Inverness.
Wednesday 17th July – Leave Huntly 1.30pm, arrive Portsoy at 2.30pm. Portsoy to Buckie ¾ hour. Buckie to Lossiemouth 1 hour. Tea at 5pm, St Andrew’s Hotel, Buckie.
Thursday 18th July – Leave Huntly at 12.30pm, arrive Grantown at 2.30pm. Grantown to Nairn 1¼ hours. Tea at 5.30pm, Victoria Hotel Café, Nairn.
Friday 19th July – Huntly to Rothes 1¾ hours. Leave Huntly at 1.15pm. Rothes to Dufftown ½ hour. Dufftown to Huntly ¾ hour.
Saturday 20th July – Leave Huntly at 1pm, arrive Elgin at 2.30pm. Elgin to Forres ½ hour. Forres to Inverness 1 hour 20 minutes. Tea at 6pm, La Scala Picture House, Inverness.
Bus to be at Hotel door ¼ hour before starting out each day so as to allow time for start of each performance.
IBEW - the History of Brass Bands 