TOP BRASS

Series

Series Name: Mining Review 8th Year

Issue

Issue No.

Date Released

Feb 1955

Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 3

Summary

BFI Summary - Divisional brass band contest.
NCB synopsis: The first Divisional Brass Bands Contest to be held. Eleven Bands competed and Harton Colliery won the Cup.
NCB Commentary - A cold winter’s afternoon at Easington saw colliery bands from all over the Durham coalfield massing for the first ever Divisional Brass Band contest. Organised by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, eleven bands congregated this afternoon to compete in two sections.
As usual, the adjudicator was sealed off at the back of the hall. He must listen, but mustn’t see the bands. Distinguished visitors in the gallery included the Chairman of the Durham Division.
For over five hours a packed audience listened intently to the test pieces as they were played by each band in turn.
In Section "A" of the contest three grand Finalists in the Daily Herald National Championships of last year were competing. Crookhall, Craghead and Easington Bands were strong favourites for the Championship. But the knowledgable noted Harton Colliery Band as likely outsiders. Here they are under their conductor, Norman Piper, playing the test selection from Mendelssohn’s works.
And indeed Harton Band’s crisp playing was to bring them a well-deserved victory over Crookhall, 4 pts. behind, and Easington in third place.
Among the speakers who praised the efforts of all the bands were Easington Welfare Officer Robinson and Norman Nattrass, Chairmen of the Divisional Welfare Committee who introduced the adjudicator, Harry Mileman.
The big moment was near at hand. E. H. D. Skinner, Durham N.C.B. Chairman presented the prizes to the Bandsmen. Harton’s leader posed happily with the £100 trophy.
Next day, at the Victoria Inn near the colliery, the trophy was brought home and received with appropriate ceremony.
To the men of Harton this victory symbolises another stage in the post-war comeback of their colliery band.
To all bands in the Durham Field the contest has been a stimulus to greater efforts and national success in 1955.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 10 January 1955.

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