Band feels 'lost' without Janet

JANET PAYNE, band club secretary

BOARSHURST Silver Band have paid tribute to an immense woman whose passing has left the club with a great feeling of loss.

The Greenfield club paid tribute to their secretary Janet Payne (68) who passed away on February 4 at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

It was through her husband Mike, who died about 15 years ago, that Janet got involved with the band and she saw numerous successes for the club after taking on the secretaryship in 2002 and then became club secretary in 2010. All in all she, along with other members of her family, served the band for 40 years.

Janet, had three children, John, Nicholas and Charlotte and four grandchildren Jenna, Molly, Daniel and Georgia.

She saw the band scoop first place in the prestigious Brass at the Guild Championships and compete in the finals of the National Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham where they went head to head with 20 other bands from across Great Britain.

Neil Jackson, President of Boarshurst, paid tribute to Janet, citing her contribution over the years as immense.

He said: "Janet and her family have been involved with Boarshurst for 40 years, it is a long time.

"Janet took on the secretaryship in 2002 and then she became the club secretary in 2010.

"The contribution that Janet has given back into the club has been immense. She is the sort of person that would probably do everything for you, nothing was too much trouble."

He said: "When you have a successful band it means there is a lot of pressure on the secretary if you think of all the arrangements they have got to make.

"There is a great feeling of loss with Janet's death at the club. She often referred to the club as her band."

Her funeral will take place on February 17 at St Chad's Saddleworth at 2pm before the service moves to Dukinfield Crematorium at 4pm.

The White Hart is also booked from 3.30pm where people can meet before moving on to Boarshurst Band Club.

Neil added: "The band will be playing for her at the funeral, I think there will be people queuing up to play for her."