The fourth weekend in November 2003 will be remembered
by many as a time of celebration when the English Rugby Union team were
victorious in Sydney, Australia to receive the William Webb Ellis Trophy
– the World Cup. But at the northern end of the Saddleworth valley
for the members and supporters of Diggle Brass Band it meant much more,
it was the start of a weekend of different joyous celebration.
On the Friday evening a presentation dinner was held at Stamford Golf
Club, Tameside to reward members of the band for their victory in the
National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in the 3rd Section
at the Caird Hall, Dundee. Band members together with their Musical
Director, Alan Lawton, were each given a commemorative medal. Alan,
born in Delph, was for many years a player, resident conductor and manager
of the Fairey Band.
The success story of the band has been quite remarkable. The original
band had been disbanded in 1929, which left the village with a Band
Club but without a band.
At a social evening in the home of local farmer, Alan Rhodes and his
wife Dorothy with part-time shepherd Brian Taylor (Soprano Cornet player
for many years with Slaithwaite, Stalybridge, Poynton and many others),
the conversation turned to Brian’s favourite pipe dream –
to re-form the Diggle Band. Alan & Dorothy agreed that, if sufficient
people were interested to become patrons of the proposed revival, they
would give him every assistance.
The first rehearsal of the new outfit, which was only a dozen strong,
took place in the garage adjoining the Band Club in the last weekend
in November seven years ago, under the baton of George Morgan an ex
Bass player with Black Dyke. The original idea was to recruit players
who had retired from competitive banding and would just turn up for
a blow on one evening each week. Within less than two years the band
had grown to a full strength group of twenty-seven players. By now,
the upper room of the club had been refurbished and converted to ensure
that first class rehearsal facilities would be available.
Go to part two
|
