Diggle already gearing up for the band contests - in 2022!

Following last week hugely disappointing news that the 2021 Whit Friday band contests have been cancelled, one of the village committees has already begun to prepare and raise funds for 2022.

Billed as “the greatest free show on earth”, the colourful band contests attract thousands of visitors to the event which sees famous local, national and international bands weave their musical magic across 11 contests.

However, it will now not be happening for the second year running due to the pandemic.

That’s not stopped the Diggle Band Contest committee making plans for next year, though, and they hope to raise much-needed funds by selling attractive bespoke masks.

Vicki Murcott, the Chair of the Diggle Band Contest, said: “Our Band Contest committee was disappointed, along with the wider brass band community and Saddleworth villages, that the Whit Friday contests would need to be cancelled again in 2021.

“We do understand that it's necessary, but we wanted to mark the occasion in some way and also to raise some funds ready for 2022.

“Usually, we would ask local businesses to support us, but it feels like a really hard time to ask for their support in the middle of a pandemic.

“It costs over £4,000 a year to run the Diggle Contest, plus a contribution from Oldham Council to all the contests to support some of the logistical costs.

“We worry that this will disappear with pressure on Council budgets once we reach 2022.

“So, our committee met online via Zoom to come up with some ideas and settled on designing some bespoke masks.

“A Diggle resident, Amy Saggerson, kindly helped us to source some suitable masks and with the help of designer, Ben Toft (Cubicle Creative), we have launched three high quality masks which feature the hashtag #whatfriday as a play on #whitfriday.”

There are three designs available:

1 Please keep at least one trombone apart

2 Brass banned

3 Don't blow it

The masks can be bought for just £5 from number of local businesses that have kindly offered their support:

1 Diggle Chippy

2 Platting Farm Meat Market

3 Alimentari Di Alberti Greengrocers

4 Kobe Coffee

They are also available for home delivery for £6.50.

There is more information, including ordering details, on the Diggle Band Contest Facebook page.

“We hope that the masks can bring a little fun to 2021 and we'd love to see pictures of people wearing them on social media using #whatfriday,” added Vicki.

“We have lots more ideas for entertaining the local community and raising some funds for 2022 to come, so watch this space!"

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