The Bolton United Band

There are so many anonymous photographs of brass bands, most without any features to help identification. Here is one such British band – but there is a clue on the drum. It states “United Brass Band”, and above that is a very indistinct word. I have blown it up as much as possible, and open it up to your suggestions! A quick look in my database did not give any obvious contenders.

However it does look like “Bolton”, but I think this is not Bolton Lancashire, but probably the Wath and Bolton United Band, from Wath-on-Dearne, active in 1891 through into the early 1900’s. This would probably fit with the fact that some other wording (perhaps “Wath and”) would have been above the crest or insignia on the centre of the drum.

There is no reference to a “Bolton United Band” from Lancashire that I am aware of.

Penallta Colliery Prize Band

Penallta Colliery Prize Band. This was active in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. The band, or a successor, was also active in 1991 when the Pennallta mine closed.

In the 60s and 70s Graddfa Secondary school band was formed and were very successful under the leadership of Mr Ieuan Morgan. Performing at The Nationals.

In the 80s and 90s some of the Graddfa players (and others) formed a senior band called Ystrad Mynach and District Brass Band under the leadership of Mr Alan Rowe. They also went on to perform at The Nationals.

Disney delights

I suspect most of us here have played many Disney tunes or selections of melodies from the films over the years. Here is perhaps the earliest introduction to bands of the musical delights of the Disney brand. From the Musical Progress and Mail of February 1936.

A winning quartet

Another photo showing a piece of lost history. There was a time when solo, duet, quartet and slow-melody competitions were common, particularly in the winter months, and occasionally attached to full band contests. Over the years these have dwindled and there are very few to be found today.

This is an unknown quartet, with their conductor and prize cup – probably from the 1930’s (later than my previous post of a similar group in March 2021). Does anyone recognise any of these fine men?

Book: Brass Bands & Processions in the Forest of Dean

Another new book on the history of brass bands, written by Roger Deeks – “Brass Bands & Processions in the Forest of Dean – a study of the relationship between Nonconformism, Friendly Societies, Politics and Brass Bands in the Forest of Dean, 1880-1914” ISBN: 978-1739787400

The book is available to buy for visitors at the Dean Heritage Centre (https://www.deanheritagecentre.com/about-us) or can be ordered from Roger himself (email rdeeks@glos.ac.uk) price £10 plus P&P.

Westwood Colliery Band

Westwood Colliery Band (County Durham), 1934. The band was active from the 1910’s to the 1930’s. It submitted plans for a new band room at High Westwood in 1932.

Morley Juvenile Excelsior Brass Band

Morley Juvenile Excelsior Brass Band was formed by Jim Isaacs in 1910. G.E. Baines was the patron of this group of youngsters. They performed many times in Dartmouth Park and gave concerts in many other towns in the West Riding. The band also included girl players. The band disbanded in 1914 after the start of WW1. (Another report gives the band forming in 1913 and still active in 1918).

Flackwell Heath Silver Band

Flackwell Heath Silver Band was founded in 1906, with bandmaster Mr Gomm. Their conductor was W.J. Burnham through the 1920’s and William Henry Stanley in the early 1930’s. It disbanded some time before WW2. Two other bands graced the village with their music – an earlier Flackwell Heath Gospel Mission Brass Band had existed in 1890, and the Flackwell Heath Concert and Youth Band was active in the 1970’s.

Margate Wesleyan Mission Band

This is Margate Wesleyan Mission Brass Band, which was active in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. An example of the many Methodist bands that have existed – Wesleyan (274), Primitive (135) and United (5). [Figures from my article on temperance brass bands]

Travelling by charabanc

How many of us will soon be setting off to our area contests, travelling in the air-conditioned comfort of a 52-seater executive coach?

It wasn’t so different a hundred or so years ago, except the transport was a little more crowded!

This is an unknown English Salvation Army band in an unknown location, but any suggestions are welcome. Some thought it might be Southsea Band.

There was a story about Alexander Owen standing in a charabanc all the way to a contest because he refused to sit on a very wet seat and risking soaked trousers when later conducting the band.

This is Bugle Silver Band in a wonderful steam-driven set of carriages.

Not every band coach trip reaches its destination safely. There have, no doubt, been many occasions that breakdowns have marred such excursions, but hopefully not too many such as the Bristol Military Band, from Connecticut, whose bus ran off the road into a river.