Villages stage a world class show

Photo: Tim Bradley

Belle Vue Brass Band at the Scouthead contest.

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THE first-ever competing band from Down Under proved a hit with the crowds at the Whit Friday Band contests.

Cheers of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” rung out as the City of Traralgon Band marched into Delph playing “Waltzing Matilda”.

People posed for photos with players who had travelled from Victoria - and one wag joked “we’ll still beat you at the cricket!” after they played for the adjudicator.

The band was inspired to join in after watching the film “Brassed Off”, which follows the fortunes of a band preparing for the contests.

Band chairman Phil Medhurst explained: “We also did a stage production with the local theatre company.

“After that we sat down, had a couple of beers and thought ‘what’s stopping us from doing the real thing?’.”

The band raised more than £100,000 to bring 31 players and 28 supporters and Phil added: “It’s amazing, We are absolutely blown away by how wonderful it is; The atmosphere is something we’ve never experienced before.”

Members also played at Hyde Park and the Tower of London, and met the world-famous Black Dyke band during their two-week tour. They will visit France this week to play at the graves of Australian soldiers.

“In 1919 our band played a welcome home for our World War One soldiers 57 times. Now we are playing a 58th time for those who didn’t come home,” explained Phil.

The international flavour continued at Dobcross where Frutigen from Switzerland was the first band to play. Their trombonist said: “We have contests in Switzerland but this is a great occasion for us.”

Next was Asenhoga from Sweden with the first rendition of the ever-popular march “Knight Templar”.

And there was near-silence as Black Dyke performed the same march an hour later, complete with their British Open shield — so big it has to be wheeled in on a trolley — and equally large National Championship trophy.

Not to be outdone, there was nearly as large a cheer for Wardle Academy as pupils proudly showed off their — smaller — national and European trophies.

Back at Delph, appreciative crowds listened to bands such as Fairey and Brighouse and Rastrick played for the adjudicator.

But the people lining King Street also had unofficial favourites as bands marched into the village with crowd-pleasers such as the appropriate “Dancing Queen” by Asenhoga, “Uptown Funk” by Hope Youth Band, and a Scottish medley by Tartan Brass. Other crowd-pleasers included “The Great Escape”, the theme tune from “Blackadder” and “Nellie the Elephant”.

Several bands wore fancy dress: they ranged from a band of Monty Python characters to Chav Brass, whose blinged-up members sported day-glo leggings, tracksuits and baseball caps and swigged from cans of Fosters. They swaggered in playing the DJ Sammy hit “Heaven” but proved they were no joke with their test piece “Knight Templar” and one officionado said: “It’s really, really good.”

After a chilly and overcast day, the heavens finally opened shortly before midnight as Marsden Silver Band played on.

But the people who braved the rain were treated to a magical performance under the lights by Black Dyke, the 76th and penultimate band. Last up was Honeywell which had the honour of closing the day with the National Anthem.



The prize winning bands for the Saddleworth & Oldham District Championship are as follows:

Open Championship

1. Fairey Band — £2,500

2. Black Dyke Band — £1,000

3. Brighouse & Rastrick Band — £750

Local Championship

1. Milnrow Band— £750

2. Marsden Silver Band — £600

3. Oldham Band (Lees) — £400

Youth Championship

1. Wardle Academy Youth Band — £250