Saddleworth brass band hopes to head to national championships

Boarshurst Silver Band

A successful brass band from Saddleworth are raising funds to head to a national band competition.

Boarshurst Silver Band has recently been successful at the North West Regional Area Brass Band Championship, finishing in second place - and now they have been inveted to the National Championships of Great Britain to be held in Cheltenham.

The band will be representing Greenfield and the Saddleworth district of Oldham, and will be competing with bands from around the UK that have qualified for the finals.

It will cost around £5000 to enable the band to travel to Cheltenham for the competition, and band member Samuel Thompson has set up a GoFundMe site to help raise funds to support the trip.  The costs also include the entry fees for the competition.

Band member Jamie Tattershall says he's excited about the trip.

"I am so honoured to play for Boarshurst Silver Band and I am proud to call them my family.  Being a young player myself, it’s great to see so many talented young players in the band.  We can’t wait to get down to Cheltenham and show people what we can do.“

Musical Director Jamie Prophet added: “I am so very pleased with this wonderful band and its fantastic achievement of qualifying for the National Brass Band Championships, flying the local flag for Saddleworth and the North West. They worked incredibly hard and the people of Oldham can be justifyably proud.

"Moving a brass band down to Cheltenham for the weekend is not cheap though and so we are asking for donations and sponsorship, however small or big, to help us on our way please. It would mean a great deal to the band, who rely on local support to keep running and functioning. I am certain Boarshurst will once again do the region proud at the Nationals and we can't wait to get down to Cheltenham.”

You can find the GoFundMe site, with details of the band and ways to donate here.

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