Band continues to “provide enjoyment and entertainment,” says Chairman

Reporter: Nicole Bradley
Date online: 27 January 2011

Tottington Public Band has been around since the 1830’s, has played all over the world and has had its fair share of crises. However, the band is still going strong, Bury Focus reporter Nicole Bradley caught up with Chairman Stuart Wilkinson to find out a bit more about the band, and ask him about his experience.

Mr Wilkinson joined the band in 1994, when his children showed an interest in joining. He took them to rehearsals three times a week, where on Tuesday and Thursday evenings their participation was to sit and observe the playing band, and on a Sunday afternoon where they took part in a learners group.

“I couldn't play a brass instrument myself; however I could read music, having been to piano lessons for 3 years from the age of ten.” Mr Wilkinson said. “After about three months of [my children] going to rehearsals, someone asked me ‘why don't I try and play an instrument?’

“Well I was given a flugel horn, which is a bit like a large trumpet to practice with, and the rest is history so to speak.

“After about six months of learning the instrument and brushing up on scales etc I was given a cornet and the job of playing the 3rd cornet parts in the band. I have remained in that position ever since, and I am very happy and have no desire to move up into a higher section of the band! Incidentally, my children stopped going to the band after six months.”

After joining the band, Mr Wilkinson was invited onto the committee, and undertook the role of instrument officer, which included duties such as looking after the records of the instruments, and arranging any repairs if required.

In 2002, the secretary’s post became vacant, and Mr Wilkinson carried out the role for a year.

The next year, the Chairman resigned, which left the committee with a problem; nobody wanted to take on the responsibility of being Chairman.

“I volunteered to carry out the role of Chairman, but nobody offered to take over the secretary’s duties. In the end, I ended up undertaking both the Chairman's and secretary duties, which I did for 6 years.

“However three years ago, someone finally offered to take over the role of secretary and I continued as Chairman, but assist by giving advice when requested.”

The Chairman's position is one of the committee posts which comes up for election annually. Band members nominate people for various positions, and Mr Wilkinson is pleased to say that he is proud to serve and promote the band in any way he can.

“I am grateful for having been re-elected every year, since first accepting the Chairman's role eight years ago.”

The biggest challenge for any band these days is commitment by players to attend both rehearsals and engagements. The ages of players are varied, with the youngest player being 12 and the eldest in his 70’s. The players are spread out across the area, with some living quite local and others living up to six miles away.

“We have a couple of players that travel forty return miles every Tuesday, just to attend the rehearsal. This also means that they have to travel much farther than anyone else in the band, when we play at engagements in the surrounding area.

“With such a wide age gap, commitment differs from one player to another. Some members work shift rotas or are often away from home, others have children with their partners also working shift patterns, so child minding becomes a problem.

“Trying to get players to totally commitment themselves is not always achievable in today's environment, but thankfully we manage, and its only on rare occasions that we ask neighbouring bands, and there are only a few bands these days, if they have any spare players to help us out.”

The number of engagements the band carries out over a 12 month period has greatly altered in the last 16 years. The many’ Church Whitsuntide Procession of Witness Walking Days’ that used to be held in years gone by have gone, and now they only regularly play for two churches; one locally in Summerseat and one in Failsworth, Oldham.

The band is totally self-funded without any sponsorship.

“That way we can work out a program of events to provide additional entertainment by way of local concerts, on dates when players are available and we don't have confirmed bookings,” said Mr Wilkinson.

“The band's most favourite event as far as I'm concerned, was when Melvin Magnall came to a band rehearsal one Tuesday night and said he would like the band to play as he left on a ship for America, taking two stone window bases from Henry Wood's former home in Tottington, and for us to be there and play for his arrival in Woodbury.

“Well after a great deal of fund-raising by the band, we did go to Woodbury and played for Melvyn as he came ashore. We thoroughly enjoyed the week long events that were laid on for the band as part of the millennium celebrations, which also included us playing in the 4th July parade.

“This is first time the band has ever played that I know off, playing instruments whilst sitting down on an articulated lorry trailer, to lead the Woodbury Independence Day parade.”

Another highlight was that the band was allowed to play several marches in the arena of the Philadelphia Baseball Stadium prior to a game. The stadium was later demolished about 2004, but when they played there, they had a capacity crowd of 75,000 people.

Mr Wilkinson doesn’t know how long he will continue to play with the band, but as long as his eyesight tells his brain what notes they see, and his brain tells his fingers which of the three valves to move and how he should use his tongue and adjust his lips, he is still in with a chance of keeping up with everyone else.

“If when the time comes that I start having problems, I will retire from playing, but not from banding. I get as much enjoyment from listening to music as I do playing, but more importantly, I will always help Tottington Public Band in any way I can, to ensure its existence continues.

“It is my dearest wish and hope, that one day there will be a brass band revival within the towns and villages in this country, and that Tottington Public Band will still be in existence when it comes. That time looks a long way off, but Tottington Public Band will still continue to provide enjoyment and entertainment, not just for its musicians, but to everyone who comes to listen and has a love of music.”

Tottington Public Band rehearse every Tuesday evening from 8 to 10pm, in Tottington Conservative Club in Royds Street and anyone is welcome to come and play. They have a learners group from 6.45 pmto 7.45pm every Thursday.