Backworth Colliery Band News

Pictures and a Video from Easingwold are now online. As are full results.

Durham Miner’s Gala Pictures are here.

Bus times as follows for Saturday 12th July:

Widdrington Station: 6.30
Pegswood (Citroen Garage): 6.50
Bedlington (TBC): 7.00
Annitsford (Shell Garage): 7.10
Backworth: 7.15
Boldon: 7.25
Hetton: 8.00

You need marching gear, march cards and hymn books.

In the traditions of the F.A. Cup, Backworth Colliery Band entered the Easingwold Contest in North Yorkshire against 16 other bands, all but one were ranked higher in the Brass Band League structure than ourselves.

In true underdog spirit, the band played a great performance of the contest march “Senator", by George Allan, and in the adjudicator Nigel Horne’s opinion placed the band 13th place out the 17 bands present.

Not only did the band win the best band in our section (4th) but we also beat three other bands who are ranked in the 3rd, 2nd and Championship section in the March element of the contest. The footballing equivalent of Blyth Spartans beating Newcastle United!

Many thanks go to the people who helped us out today - Gavin, Ged and Derek, as well as the band for their hard work and belief in what can be achieved. The amount of contesting the band has undertaken so far in 2008 is also paying off as we get more used to performing under pressure.

This puts the band in good stead for our next competition, the Teesdale Contest, next Sunday 6th July at Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle.

Pictures and Videos from the Kirkby Londsale Contest have been added to the website.

We often get contact and emails from people who have past associations with the area and the band, here are a couple that may be of wider interest:

Gwen Osbaldeston (gwen.osbaldeston@btopenworld.com)

I was fortunate to see the Backworth Colliery Band at the Kirkby Lonsdale Contest where I spoke to Catherine McKenzie.

I now live in Glossop, Derbyshire but was born in Shiremoor and my father was from Backworth. My maiden name was Anderson and quite a few of my family played in the band.

Both of my grandfathers, John William Dawson (born in 1891) and George Stanley Anderson (born in 1888) were band members. I was interested to read that originally the band also had woodwind instruments as the photographs of my grandfather Dawson have him with a clarinet and saxophone. I am certain that my grandfather Anderson played the euphonium.

I know that two of my father’s brothers also played in the band, Pete Anderson (actual name George born in 1922) and Stan Anderson (actual name John born in 1915). I don’t know which instrument Pete played but Stan played trombone. He also played it professionally at the Grand, a theatre in Byker.

I have attached some photographs which sadly are not mine, but ones that I took copies of in North Shields library.

Sorry I haven’t got more information but I am going to contact a couple of members of my father’s family to see if they have any old photographs or information. Catherine mentioned that she has a very old photograph that I can have a look at and that there are some in the Backworth Community Centre. I’m looking forward to seeing these when I come up to the north east in the summer.

From Ron and Jill Foster (ronforster@s054.aone.net.au)

Here am I sitting by my computer in Sydney, Australia listening to the Backworth Colliery Band.
My grandfather, Bob Ronald who was a shot-firer and Under Manager at the “Eccles"and my father Bill Forster who worked at the “Maude” and later at the Algernon would never have believed it.

It brought back memories to me of my grandfather taking me as a schoolboy aged 8 to the miner’s picnic at Morpeth to hear the band. (I am now 83), not to mention that he sat me outside with a lemonade whilst he had a pint of McEwan’s inside the pub.

I was especially pleased to read and take a copy of the “Backworth Collieries - Full History” which has filled many gaps in my knowledge of local history, as I am now belatedly writing up my family history for the benefit of my grandchildren. I remember the explosion in the Maude pit because my father was one of those injured. Although I must have only been 4 at the time I remember seeing him walking home to West Allotment from Backworth with burnt clothes hanging off him and with terrible burns to his person. The mention in your “history"of this 1928 Maude explosion is the only reference I have found.

I was born in 1924 in Turner Street, West Allotment where I lived with my mother and father and grandmother and grandfather, three uncles (my mother’s brothers}. My grandfather held the strong compulsion never to let his sons work down the pit. I have only fond memories of life in a colliery village where people cared about each other.

I am collecting material to write up my life story for the benefit of my Australian grandchildren and whilst I have photos of people in Turner Street, I do not have, nor can I locate on the internet, a copy of a photo of Turner Street as it was before it was demolished and replaced by the present semis.

Would you mind asking the members of the band if any of them have or know of anyone who may have a photo of Turner Street West Allotment as it existed in the 1960’s and before.

I have attached a photo of my grandfather, Robert Jack Ronald, his son Robert Ronald, who at the time the photo was taken was a professional footballer with Portsmouth FC, As a schoolboy at Murton school New York he played for the England schoolboy team against Scotland at Hampden Park. I have his England cap. Oh! the little boy in the photo is me. The photo was taken from my Granda’s garden with Turner Street in the background.

Please do not go to any trouble, just thought it was worth a try, you never know?

Sincere congratulations on the web site and best wishes to yhe members of the Backworth Colliery Band.

On the weekend of the Teesdale Contest this is the rehearsal schedule:

Friday 4th July

1930 Senior Band with Duncan, Junior Band invitied, hymns/warmup
2000 Senior Band only
2200 Close

Saturday 5th July

0900 Soloist with Duncan, Full Band warm up with Colin
0930 Full Band
1100 Close

Sunday 6th July

1030 Arrive Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

The junior band have a concert in Backworth on the Saturday afternoon, for those who can assist.

Getting to Kirkby Lonsdale - Journey time: From Backworth, 2hrs 15 mins.

Click here for a map.

We are rehearsing at Whoop Hall, baton down 9.30. For the Sat Nav people amongst us, that’s LA6 2HP

Parking on the day: Parking is available at Queen Elizabeth School, you may also be able to park a little nearer the town if you are lucky. Contest is in the Market Square

First band starts marching at 12:00, and there’s massed bands at the end (about 4.30)

Requirements: Marching gear, march cards (Slaidburn), Hymn Books, Senator, Pirates.
Massed bands: Voice of the Guns, Punchinello, Standard of St. George

For a 4th section band, Backworth achieved a very consistant and commendable set of results, with only one slip up at Broadoak, our first venue of the evening.

Overall 183 points, 28th out of 41 qualifying Tameside bands

Results

Broadoak: 			42 from 44
Hurst: 				35 from 54
Mossley: 			23 from 45
Carrbrook: 			25 from 44
Stalybridge FC: 		23 from 48
Stalybridge Labour: 	 	30 from 53

Full results at:
http://www.tameside.gov.uk/brassband/whitfriday/2008/results

At the recent band AGM, held on 11th May, the committee was expanded to 6 people, with three new members appointed.

The commitee is now:

Concert Secretary Colin Harris
Treasurer Teresa Harris
Chairman Michael Fletcher
Librarian Catherine McKenzie
Contest Secretary Cath McAllister
Committee Member Nicola Ternent

We thank Stephen Bushby for his hard work as the band’s treasurer, and look forward to a busy and rewarding 2008.

On a sad note, the band has this month said goodbye to two members of our bass section. Peter Barker has been the fulcrum of our bass section for over ten years and Geoff Howe is also leaving after a short time with the band. Both members have stated increased demands from home and work as the reasons for leaving and we wish them well.

The band are inviting applicants for the position of bass, via our vacancies page.

Over the last month, the band has performed at two contests.

On 26th April, several members of the junior and senior band took part in the Wansbeck Music Festival solos, duets and ensemble section, with the senior band taking part in the open contest on the Sunday, 27th April. It was successful weekend, with several members scooping prizes and the band overall winning best 4th section band.

Full results are listed at 4 Bars rest

The band also participated at the Whit Friday contests on 16th May, marching to Senator and competiting in 6 events. So far we only have one result, but will post more when we have them.

A big thanks to Neil, Ingrid and Derek who helped the band out and without them we could not have made the trip down.