Uppermill Band

News

July 2010 - Durham Miners' Gala

At silly o’clock (well 4 am) the coach was loaded up with most of the band and a few guest volunteers for the band’s third excursion to the Durham miners gala.
A bite to eat and a brew at “The Bird” public house at 7-30 then at 8 o’clock we marched through the village of High Handenhold in front of the miners lodge banner then back on the coach for the drive to Durham.
We formed up near the county hospital with a 32 strong band, about twice the size of some of the others taking part, and marched through the city centre to play outside The Marriot hotel where the dignitaries were waiting on the balcony for the bands to stop and play.
“All that jazz”, our chosen piece, had most of the celebrities and a fair proportion of the crown singing along, tapping feet and hands etc, then it was off to “The Racecourse” where the gala is focused and the banner and instruments were stacked whilst the players and supporters took a rest and had some food a drink to replenish themselves in view of the heat but also the humidity of the day.
The march back through Durham started about 2-30 with a stunning Uppermill band waltz / tango around the people on the field who didn’t want to get up from their chosen sunbathing spots, with barely a note out of place.
The playing of the miners hymn “Gresford” outside the hotel on the way back went down well, then it was back through the city to the coach, just managing to get there as a short sharp rain shower came down.
Back to High Handenhold and a reverse march through the village to the pub where “All tha jazz” and “Gresford” were appreciated again by the villagers and the food laid on was most welcome before the journey home to Saddleworth.
Thanks to the band but very much so to the friends and family who turned out to boost the band’s numbers so impressively.

June 2010 - New Principal Cornet

Uppermill band is delighted to welcome back Sarah Hudson to it's ranks in the principal cornet seat. Sarah played for the band previously as assistant principal cornet, before moving on to further her playing career. We look forward to Sarah taking up the challenge to lead Uppermill Band forward, especially in 2011 when the band moves into the second section.

May 2010 - Goodbye Tom

Friday 28th May 2010, Whit Friday, saw the 'end of an era'. Once the night's hard work was over and the band was relaxing with some welcome food and the odd beverage (or two) back at the club along with members of the Longridge Band, Uppermill Chairman John Ward announced that the principal cornet player for the last four years, Tom Gibb, was leaving the band for pastures new.

Tom has been involved with Uppermill Band since he returned to playing in 2006 and has been involved in the most successful period of the Band's history, but he has, with no little regret, decided to move on in his banding career and will be joining Hepworth Band in the Championship Section. A card signed by members of the band was given to Tom who, when expressing some regret about leaving, pledged to help Uppermill out whenever he could as he had some very fond memories of his time with the band.

The Band would like to thank Tom for everything he has done and helped us to achieve and we wish him the very best for the future. We will miss you, Why Aye Man!

March 2010 - Annual Band Awards

Most Improved Player

Christopher Gillespie - Soprano

Player's Player

1st Mike Kowalski - 1st Trombone

2nd Ben Pollard -1st Baritone

3rd Tom Gibb - Principal Cornet

Bandsperson

1st Graham Pollard - Committee

2nd John Ward - Chairman

3rd Jenny Pollard - Committee

Quote of the Year

Alan Widdop - "It'll sound wrong if you don't play it right!"

Meritorious Service Award
Marjorie Fielding Memorial Trophy

Brian Jenkins

June 2009 - Presentation

At this week's 30th Anniversary Beer & Brass Concert a Presentation was made to Chairman Mr John Ward and his Wife, Treasurer Mrs Jenny Ward, in honor of their devoted 30th Years Service to Uppermill Band.

Behind the scenes of every successful organization you will find people who give their time and efforts without question, therefore enabling the smooth running of most things, Jenny and John Ward are two of these people, having worked tirelessly for the past 30 years often without any recognition. There are indeed many 'jobs' to be carried out within a Brass Band but Jenny and John have probably taken on most of them and carried them out successfully for the benefit of Uppermill Band.

Their time started with the Band when their children, Ian and Alison, joined the band back in 1979 and as do most parents, they offered their help back then to the Band possibly not realizing then that 30 years later they would still hold such strong and important positions within the Band.

It has to be said that with out them both we would not have the kind of organization in our Band that we do, something to be very proud of indeed.

So we would all like to say a very big Thank You from all of us here at Uppermill Band to Jenny and John, congratulations on your wonderful achievement and long may your work with us continue.

A presentation of a Lead Crystal engraved vase was made to Jenny and John by Mr Graham Pollard, Committee Member and Band Librarian.

May 2009 - Celebrating our 30th Anniversary - 1979-2009

It was back in March 1979 that the Band was first formed. To coincide with the Band's 30th Anniversary it was decided to officially open the new Band Room at Saddleworth Cricket Club, on what was a most glorious evening.

Chief Guest of Honor and cutting the official 'Blue' ribbon, was Mr Richard Evans, known worldwide as one of the top Musical Directors and Adjudicators, together with Mr Peter Bates, who is the North West Regional Brass Band Association Chairman.

The evening was well attended with players, committee members and previous Musical Directors of the Band both past and present, as well as many friends and associates of the Band over the last 30 years.

This year has been a tremendous start for the Band with excellent contests results in our new found 3rd Section. An announcement was made on the evening that the Band had received a letter from the North West Counties Brass Band Association, with news of promotion to the 2nd Section. Again a tremendous achievement!

To mark this special occasion a presentation of the band crest in the form of a Pin Badge was made to each Player and Committee member, again both past and present.

April 2009 - Uppermill Band on BBC Radio 4

On Saturday 18th April 2009 Uppermill Band were featured on Radio 4 from with live recording from last years Durham Miner's Gala (2008) on their first ever visit. The band were fortunate enough to be recorded throughout the day on the Big Meet, both marching around the city of Durham itself and also in the magnificent Durham Cathedral.

The band played pieces such as the well known hymn, 'Onward Christian Soldiers", and other well known marches, "Colonel Bogey", & "Slaidburn", for example which are featured throughout the 60 minute story telling with a 'Special Thanks' to the band in the ending credits.

The play itself: "Douglas Livingstone's play about Bevin Boys, the young men who were sent down the mines instead of joining the armed forces in the Second World War. Two 80 year old former Bevin Boys, who have not seen each other for 63 years, decide to go to the Durham Miners' Gala together and confront their memories of the past." (Source BBC)

March 2009 - Annual Band Awards

Most Improved Player

Michelle Kowalski - 2nd Trombone

Player's Player

1st Tom Gibb - Principal Cornet

2nd Ben Pollard -1st Baritone

3rd Mike Kowalski - 1st Trombone

Bandsperson

1st Graham Pollard - Committee

2nd Denise Gillespie - Secretary

3rd John Ward -Chairman

Meritorious Service Award

Marjorie Fielding Memorial Trophy

Paul Johnson

October 2008 - End of an Era

After around 10 years with the Band, Mrs Jean Hunter has decided to step down as Band Secretary. Jean has been a committee member for many years now and has been a hard working Band Secretary for 8 years, getting us to contests safe and sound and never personally drawing a Number One in all those years. Well done Jean. We send best wishes to you from everyone here at Uppermill.

July 2008 - A Welcome to Thomas Mills

Congratulations to our Cornet players, Helen and Ian Mills, on the safe arrival of their Baby Son, Thomas, who was born on Tuesday 29th July weighing in at 7lb 6oz. Many Congratulations from everyone here at Uppermill go to Helen and Ian together with a very warm welcome to Thomas, who is our very first Uppermill Baby!

124th Durham Miners' Gala 2008

The band were fortunate After our recent performance at the Durham Miners' Gala 2008 here are some of the letters and emails which we have received:

"Dear Alan,
Along with hundreds of others, I had the privilege of being in Durham Cathedral at 2:30pm on Saturday 12th July 2008, for the Miners Festival Service. My reason for writing is to say how moved were my wife, my friends and I when the Uppermill Brass Band entered the Minster playing 'Onward Christian Soldiers'. As the music rose to it's crescendo, a glance to my left and right revealed ladies dabbing watering eyes and gentlemen standing ramrod straight, lips quivering with emotion.
It was a truly magnificent, stirring performance which, for us was the highlight of a memorable weekend.
Our thanks and compliments to your good self and those most accomplished musicians of the Uppermill Brass Band, very well done, we hope to hear you again in the not too distant future.
Yours Faithfully, Mr Standring - Worksop, Notts."

"It was great to hear your band leading in the Handen Hold Lodge Banner at Durham Miners' Gala yesterday. I took lots of photos of the event.
I noticed that the sound of a band back in the community was most poignant for many of the elderly residents, especially the playing of Gresford.
Julian L Harrop, Durham"

March 2008 - Annual Band Awards

Most Improved Player

Dave Brown - 2nd Cornet

Player's Player

1st Tom Gibb - Principal Cornet

2nd Dave Mansfield - BBb Bass

3rd Sarah Louise Hudson - Assistant Principal Cornet

Bandsperson

1st Chris Bardsley - 3rd Cornet

2nd Steve Sanders - BBb Bass

3rd Ian Mills - Solo Cornet

Meritorious Service Award

Marjorie Fielding Memorial Trophy

Graham Pollard

February 2008 - Wedding Congratulations

Everyone at Uppermill Band would like to congratulate Mr and Mrs Jim Hunter on their marriage. A very special day was celebrated on Friday 29th February 2008 at The Saddleworth Hotel, as our Secretary Jean Prescott married Mr Jim Hunter. Jean has been Secretary with the Band now for several years and Jim was the MD of the Band for many years, until 2003. The Band send all their very best wishes for a long and happy life together.

January 2008 - 4 Bars Rest: Lower Section/Youth Band of the Year: Runners Up

The band were deligted to be nominated for the Lower Section Band of the Year by 4barsrest. The results eagerly awaited and were announced on Christmas Day. Having been nominated for the first time the Band were thrilled with 13% of the votes to become runners up to Sellers International Youth Band.

News

Congratulations go to all at Sellers International Youth Band!