Silent tribute

Mark C Wilkinson LMPA

A CORNET was carried in silent tribute by grieving members of a brass band at the Saddleworth Whit Friday brass band contest.

The instrument belonged to Mark Rodgers, a highly respected musician who had performed with a multitude of bands and died in his sleep a week ago, aged 40.

His life and contribution to the brass band movement was celebrated in emotional performances by Uppermill Band in contests across the villages.

It was carried ahead of the 28-piece band by John Ward, the band's chairman and manager, and two committee members.

But there was added poignancy when the band played at Delph, Mark's home village, because his girlfriend and fellow band member, Lauren Brundell, carried the cornet and placed a floral tribute at the contest site.

As an added tribute, all band members wore white roses in their jacket lapels, and after the contests his soprano cornet was retired.

Mr Wood said: "It was an emotional day for everyone, particularly


when we reached Delph. Mark was very popular and this came through with tears, floral tributes and respectful applause in the villages.

"To lose a player at such a young age has completely rocked the band.

"We had talked about what we could do on Whit Friday out of respect for Mark. One of the ideas was the band shouldn't turn out.

"However, it was felt by the vast majority Mark wouldn't want that. He has been in banding nearly all of his life and would have wanted the band to carry on and put on a performance."

Mark's parents, Bob and Mary, organisers of the Delph band contest, were consulted on proposals to honour their son.

"They agreed the white roses would be a very nice touch," confirmed John. "And the cornet was carried at the front as the band marched down the High Street in Delph and throughout Saddleworth.

"It was very tough, not just for the band but particularly for Mark's family."

Mark's dad Bob said: "The outpouring of kind messages has been overwhelming. If you lined up all the people who have offered to help they would stretch through the villages.

"A lot of the bands wanted to do a tribute or play a hymn on Whit Friday but that could have been disruptive, as nice as the idea was.

"We are just trying to get on with things as normal."

On Whit Sunday, Uppermill band attended a procession of witness with St John's, Church in Lees down to St Thomas's.

"Before we started we had consoled each other and it was felt right we should play a hymn for Mark which was 'Abide With Me,'" John added.

"As well as playing for a number of bands Mark also helped a lot as well.

"He would step in if a cornet player was missing and he must have 'depted' for more than 100 bands. He would never turn anyone down."

Mark had previously played for Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick, British Aerospace, British Telecom, Delph, Diggle, Hepworth, Leyland and Marsden Silver bands.

He studied at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and later successfully added a MA degree at Huddersfield.

His funeral will be held on Friday at Christ Church, Denshaw, at 2pm. Flowers welcome, any donations will be go towards repairs on the church's pinnacle.

Bill Cullen, former chair of Saddleworth Parish Council who passed away a few months ago, was also mourned.

Bill was integral in organising the Springhead and Lees contest and compiling village results.