British Open Championships - 153 Useless Facts and Figures
8-Sep-20054BR has updated our useless facts and figures again to give you 153 pieces of absolutely pointless pieces of trivia (one for every year) to bore the pants off your friends down the pub (if you really have any left that is).
This year we have updated our useless facts and figures section to include lots more snippets of information you can bore the pants off the person sitting next to you at Symphony Hall when the next band is getting ready to go on stage. To celebrate the fact that it is the 153rd contest we have of course come up with 153 pointless pieces of British Open trivia
We have broadened our research by looking through old programmes as far back as 1901, rummaging around in attics and dusty libraries and generally becoming World Champion anoraks. There is a lot more new information for those of you out there who like this sort of thing. There are now 153 pearls of wisdom for you to pour over. As Oscar Wilde once said, "It is a sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information."
We also give permission to any student to use these facts in their next dissertation. It will appear to your tutor that you have done some work, instead of waking up at 12.00 am to watch Neighbours.
For those of you who are confronted by someone who knows all of these facts - you have our permission to get them sectioned in the nearest mental hospital. They really need to get a life...
1. This years contest will be the 153rd Open, although there was in fact no contest in 1859 due to only three bands entering - so technically this is in fact the 152nd.
2. The contest organisers send each band "Guidance Notes" to ensure they are fully prepared for an eventuality that could overcome them on the day. Each bands notes are personalised.
3. Rule 4 of the contest stated that the contest was open only to bands from the British Isles and countries from the Commonwealth - that's why there were no European bands in it. Not any more does it, as the Illinois Brass Band become the first from outside the old Empire to play here and are now followed by the Brass Band of Central Florida. There is still no mention thatit is open to bands from the European Union though.
4. Rule 5 states that the contest is open to bands composed of standard brass band instrumentation - 25 players and 4 percussionists - all four will be used this year for sure!
5. It goes further to state that no conductor can play an instrument with the band they are conducting - although it doesn't stop a conductor playing an instrument with another band.
6. No player can play more than one instrument - a rule that harks back to the day a chap from Black Dyke won the solo prize after playing both euphonium and trombone!
7. All the major percussion equipment this year is provided by the organisers - care of Mr Ray Payne
8. The famous ornate programme cover harks back to 1952, when it was first used. Before then the programme was a scrappy bit of paper stuck together.
9. Places for all bands will continue to be done in order of merit. The last time points were awarded was in 1998.
10. In the programmes before and after the First World War, the full names and addresses of the players were printed in the programmes, so the audience knew who they were listening to and that they could go around their house afterwards to complain that they lost!
11. In 1917, 12 Fodens players were noted as living in the same street in Sandbach. All lived in George Street.
12. Ralf Van Looveran who played with Sellers last year is the current holder of the Stanley Wainwright trophy as "Best Soloist" at the contest.
13. The famous Shield is in fact only 81 years old - it was first presented in 1924.
14. The first winners were therefore the Australian Newcastle Steel Works Band, who took home the £2000 shield. The first British winners were Creswell Colliery in 1925. It is not reported though if the Aussies took the Shield back home with them, or like the Ashes in cricket it was kept in England.
15. This year there are no representatives from either the South West or London and the Southern Counties - so the British Open is in fact only "Open" to 6 of the 8 Regions of the country.
16. The last time a London based band was at the open was in 1991, when Asphaltic Newham came 13th and were relegated.
17. The last time a South West Region Band was at the Open was 2001 when the Flowers Band came 21st and were relegated.
18. This year there are 7 bands from Yorkshire, 3 from the North West, 2 from Wales, 3 from Scotland, 1 from the Midlands and 1 from the North East. And the 1 from the USA.
19. The Hepworth Persimmon Homes Band are this years Grand Shield Winners and are joined by Ashton Under Lyne at the contest.
20. The former welsh contenders Cwmaman who dropped out in 2004 is also the home town of the world famous pop group "The Stereophonics"
21. Since 1972, Stanshawe, Leyland, Cory and YBS as Grand Shield winners have gone on to actually win the contest - although none in the following year.
22. Stephen Roberts, the 2003 arranger of the set work actually conducted the winning band at the Grand Shield in 1983 (Jones and Crossland) and went on to conduct at the Open as well.
23. Seven of the bands competing today have at one time been crowned British Open Champions. They are Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick, Buy As You View, Fairey, Fodens, Grimethorpe and YBS.
24. Six of the conductors though have also had the honour of directing a winning performance. MD's King, R. Childs, Renton and Parkes, Cutt and Gourlay are in the club.
25. The first woman playing member of a winning band is believed to be Debra Batt of the City of Coventry Band who won in 1981. There are no records of anyone else doing it before here.
26. The prize money won at the contest is not given on the day, but dispatched 14 days later! (Just in case)
27. Her Majesty the Queen is the Patron of the contest although we don't think she has ever been to listen to a band at the contest itself! She became Patron in 1952.
28. The first time two bands qualified from the Grand Shield to the Open was 1985 when Woodfalls and Point of Ayr were invited.
29. Last years judges were David Read, Michael Ball and Philip Sparke. No news as yet for this year, but look out for some familiar faces?
30. Some other awards will be made on the day - Paul Hindmarsh will receive the Iles Medal and Alun Williams will receive the Mortimer Medal.
31. Betty Anderson was the first woman to conduct at the Open - with the Ratby Band in 1978 on Benvenuto Cellini.
32. Lynda Nicholson became the second woman to do it in 2002 when she directed Besses o' th' Barn. There are no women this year.
33. Garry Cutt won the Open in 1989. He remains the youngest winning conductor at the contest - although he has done it twice more since.
34. The contest takes place at Symphony Hall Birmingham - the fourth venue in the history of the contest after Belle Vue, The Free Trade Hall and Bridgewater Hall.
35. The hall seats 2,261 people, weighs 32,000 tonnes and is built on 800 rubber cushions to dampen vibration.
36. In excess of 1.8 million people have visited the hall since it opened in April 1991.
37. An acoustic test proved that you can actually hear a pin drop at the hall - only when a band isn't playing though!
38. Symphony Hall's exterior window is the largest single unsupported expanse of glass in Europe.
39. The lowest number of bands to compete at the contest since 1939 was the 9 of that year.
40. The winning margin between the band placed 1st and 6th was 42 points though!
41. 3 of the trophies given to the bands coming in the top six are named in honour of great conductors. Rimmer, Gladney and Mortimer. The other is given in memory of Edrich Siebert, whilst the runners up get a trophy named after the General Manger and printer of the Belle Vue programmes and results sheets venue up to 1952, Frank Parker.
42. In 1976 the winning band took home with them the top prize of £350 - in cash.
43. In addition the winning conductor took home an engraved silver plated gallery tray and goblets.
44. The winning solo cornet player received an engraved silver plated gallery tray also.
45. The winning secretary won an executive attaché case!
46. The top band also got a set of Vivo Mutes worth £45.00 and music vouchers to the tune of £20.00!
47. The runners up got the Frank Parker trophy a conductors stand worth £22.50, £10.00 of music vouchers and £200 in cash.
48. The youngest player on the day in the top six bands won a miniature cup.
49. In 1977 the winners also picked up a "Sovereign Cornet", inscribed "The Harry Mortimer Award" worth £305.00 - the winning band was Black Dyke, so did Philip McCann win the award - and did he keep it?
50. The last band to retain their title was Black Dyke - as far back as 1986. No one has done so since. Dyke also did it after winning in 1976 and back again after winning in 1972 and 1973.
51. The first winners were Mossley Temperance in 1853 under the baton of William Taylor who won the top prize of 16 gold sovereigns from a field of 8 bands.
52. They were drawn last band on - so some things never change.
53. The three adjudicators were "hidden" in the orchestral pit of the ballroom of the hall at Belle Vue Zoological Gardens.
54. The greatest band of the day were Bacup (4th Lancashire Volunteers) who in the ten year period 1862 - 1872 won the title 4 times, came 2nd twice, 3rd once and 4th twice, then disbanded!
55. Black Dyke Mills Band won their first Open in 1862, who then repeated the feat the next year.
56. They weren't allowed to compete the following year to try for the hat trick.
57. The first band to achieve the hat trick were Meltham Mills conducted by the great John Gladney in 1876 - 1878.
58. In 1867 the own choice plus set work formula was stopped and from then on it was a set work only contest.
59. Bands achieving a hat trick were allowed to keep the trophy, but this was stopped after 1887 when Kingston Mills won the hat trick and the practice was stopped due to expense!
60. The next 40 years saw bands compete for a new annual trophy.
61. The great Alexander Owen won his first Open conducting Black Dyke to the title in 1880 in a field of eight, and the band won the princely sum of £30.
62. From 1872 - 1921, Lieutenant Charles Godfrey arranged every test piece used at the contest and adjudicated just about every year too!
63. Accrington were the first band to win off a number 1 draw in 1855 from a field of 15, although Leeds (Smiths) repeated the fact in 1857, but this time in a field of just 5.
64. 1885 saw a field of 31 bands -the biggest field ever at the contest.
65. The great William Halliwell has the best record of any conductor at the Open. From 1905 to 1939 he won the contest 17 times, had 13 runners up places, 12 third places, 6 fourth places, 6 fifth places and 11 sixth places. Some record!
66. The first points awarded to the prize winners that we have recorded is in 1891 when Black Dyke won with 124pts from Wyke on 117pts, Dewsbury on 106pts and Besses on 105pts.
67. In 1898, Alex Owen conducted no fewer than 10 bands on the day in a field of 22, but could only get a best placing of third.
68. William Halliwell's greatest run of victories amounted to six in a row between 1931 and 1936. He also won it four times on the trot between 1910 and 1913.
69. William Rimmer had a nap hand five on the trot between 1905 and 1909.
70. 1900 saw the third win of a number 1 draw when Lindley band took the honours in a field of 19 - the following year they were drawn number 1 again, but this time came 5th.
71. Alexander Owen's last victory came in 1901 when he took Kingston Mills to the title. He last appeared at the contest in 1919 with Goodshaw band a year before his death.
72. Cory (now BAYV) first made an appearance at the contest in 1922 under the baton of a certain J.G. Dobbing. Their second appearance wasn't until 1941.
73. William Wood won the title with Besses o' th' Barn in 1920 and again in 1939 with Wingates. His last success came with Besses again in 1959 - a gap of 39 years from his first win - the longest gap between winning conducting performances in the contest's history.
74. In 1909, William Rimmer conducted 5 of the top 6 prize winners at the contest. His only other band on the day didn't come in the prizes.
75. The first £100 winners were Harton Colliery in 1919 and the first £150 winners were Newcastle Steel Works (Australia) in 1924.
76. Newcastle were the first overseas band to take the title in 1924, although an Australian Commonwealth band appeared at the contest in 1926 and came 4th.
77. Brighouse and Rastrick were the band of the 1930's, winning the contest in 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1936. They also won in 1929 as well!
78. The last pre war band winners were Slaithwaite in 1938, who had come 2nd the year before, who won conducted by Noel Thorpe, pipping Black Dyke to the title.
79. Some of the bands that competed at the contest prior to the War had great names. Bands such as Nutgrove, Dove Holes, Perfection Soap Works, Gwauncaegurwen, Dick Kerr Electrics, Aberaman Original, Beswick Subscirtion and our all time favourite - Workington Discharged Sailors.
80. Further back bands such as Saddleworth and Haybottoms, Ramsbottom, Golcar, Talk o' th' Hill, Longsight Steam Shed and Shrewsbury Amateur Promenade all took part.
81. 1924 saw bands playing a "Selection of Franz Liszt" - the last time a selection from the works of a great composer was used.
82. Fred Mortimer actually adjudicated at the contest in 1930 (the only time he ever did). He never by all accounts liked Belle Vue as a contest at all.
83. 1935 saw the first referee to compliment the two judges, although we don't know what his actual job was to do.
84. Fairey Engineering first appeared at the contest in 1937 conducted by Harry Mortimer. They didn't come anywhere.
85. In 1939, Wingates won the contest by 10 points from Nelson band in second place. Wingates were awarded 192pts. The band that came sixth in a 9 band field were awarded 150pts!
86. Fairey's first win came in 1941 under Harry Mortimer. They are now the only band to have won at least once every decade since then.
87. Mortimers first appearance at the contest was in 1909 on Il Bravo as a player.
88. Fairey's won the title in 1944 by 12 points! They were awarded 182 pts, whilst the band that came sixth were given 152 pts. It was 23 band field, so God help the band that came last!
89. Harry Mortimer's last win came in 1956 with Fairey's on "Tam O' Shanters Ride", when he pipped his brother Alex into second place.
90. He conducted just once more at the contest the following year off a number 1 draw with Munn and Feltons and off a 16 draw with Fairey's. They came sixth.
91. Eric Ball, who's 100th birthday was celebrated in 2003 conducted three winning performances at the Open - 1948 with CWS (Manchester), 1951 with Ransome and Marles (playing his own test piece - The Conquerors!) and 1952 CWS (Manchester) again.
92. He also wrote the test pieces for the Open in 1946 (Pride of Race), 1950 (Resurgam), 1951 (The Conquerors), 1954 (Tournament for Brass), 1958 (Sunset Rhapsody), 1959 (The Undaunted), 1961 (Main Street) and 1971 (Festival Music).
93. He also adjudicated at the Open in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1971, 1971 and 1973. That's a record for you.
94. Cory nearly took the title to Wales for the first time in 1950 when they came second to Fairey's - being pipped to the title by 1 point. Walter Hargreaves conducted the band.
95. Scotland have yet to win it - three third places by CWS Glasgow and Whitburn's runners up spot in 2003 have been the best so far.
96. 1953 saw the National Band of New Zealand take the title winning by two points from Fairey's off a number 14 draw. Fairey's played straight after them. It was the second time the trophy had left Great Britain.
97. The great Stanley Boddington's first win came in 1954 with Munn and Feltons. This was his only victory at the contest and came off the number 1 draw as well.
98. 1955 saw the only victory for Ferodo Works who came second in 1954, won in 1955 by 4 points, came fourth in 1956, nowhere in 1957 and disappeared from the face of the earth by 1958.
99. The Centenary of the contest was in 1953, when the programme cost 1 shilling and sixpence, the top prize was £150 and the winning player all received illuminated scrolls, a set of medals and the band also got a metronome.
100. In 1973 the Fairey Band didn't compete at the Open as their newly appointed Principal Cornet, Kevin Bolton honoured his agreement to play with Carlton Main on the day. Fairey were left without a top man and therefore withdrew.
101. Welshman T.J. Powell - he of "The Contestor" march fame was one of the judges in 1956, 1958, and 1961.
102. Alex Mortimer became the second member of the famous family to take the Open crown in 1960 with Brighouse and Rastrick. Fred never did it, but Harry did it on 9 occasions. Alex did it just one more time in 1966 with CWS (Manchester).
103. 1961 the great Leonard Lamb got his first win with Fairey's playing "Main Street" by Eric Ball. It was a 3-point win over Wingates and the first of a hat trick of titles.
104. Up until their win in 2004, Fodens last win at the Open came in 1964 under Rex Mortimer - the third and last of the clan to win the great prize. They got a two-point win over the Lindley band (conducted by Leonard Lamb) playing "Lorenzo" by Thomas Keighley.
105. Leonard Lamb did it again in 1965 and won the Open for the last time with Fairey's playing "Saga of the North" which gave them a 2-point winning margin from Brighouse and Walter Hargreaves. He conducts the band for two more years, but never wins again and sadly dies in 1973.
106. 1966 sees the last Mortimer victory. Alex this time with CWS (Manchester) and a three-point victory on "Downland Suite" from Yorkshire Imperial.
107. Grimethorpe's first victory at the Open comes in 1967 when George Thompson led the colliers to a 2-point victory over Fairey's. Thompson first took the band at the Open in 1940.
108. In 1963 the top prize was the princely sum of £200 - worth about £3200 today.
109. Vinter puts the cats among the pigeons with "Spectrum" in 1968 and the music is met with universal disgust from the old guard of the banding world. Grimethorpe take the title with Vinter in the box - he's dead by the end of the year and the banding world loses perhaps its greatest innovator.
110. Herbert Howells and Jack Mackintosh make their only appearance in the box in 1970 and give the title to Yorkshire Imperial under Trevor Walmsley (the only man we believe who conducted a winning band at the Open and won the Distinguished Flying Cross for wartime heroics).
111. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, the Thompson Challenge Cup was awarded to the winning band in addition to the Shield. The last winners were Fairey's in 1963. Have they still got it we wonder?
112. Black Dyke take the title on "Sovereign Heritage" in 1972. This is the last victory for the band led by James Shepherd - perhaps the greatest cornet player of all time. Yorkshire Imps come sixth trying for the hat trick.
113. Black Dyke become the last band to perform the hat trick in 1974 when they won for the second time under Roy Newsome on Vinter's "James Cook". He conducted the year before, but Geoffrey Brand took the helm in 1972.
114. The other hat trick winners are - Meltham Mills 1876 - 1878; Black Dyke 1879 - 1881; Kingston Mills 1885 - 1887; Fodens 1926 - 1928; Brighouse and Rastrick 1932 - 1934; Fairey 1961 - 1963 and Dyke 1972 - 1974.
115. Dyke also won in 1976 and 1977 and missed out on a double hat trick in 1978 when Brighouse beat them into second place - winning by two points on "Benvenuto Cellini" conducted by Geoffrey Brand.
116. Both Fairey's and Brighouse also regained the title the year after they were barred - to win four out of five years.
117. 1974 sees William Relton first appear in the adjudicators box.
118. "Fireworks" by Elgar Howrth causes uproar in 1975 with the vast array of percussion required.
Howarth is in the box, with Relton and Newsome to put Wingates and a young Richard Evans top of the pile in a 23 band field. Fairey's come second and Yorkshire Imps third.
119. Epic Symphony makes it's first appearance at the Open - it has been used twice total (one and a half in reality) in 1976 and in 1986, when only the first two movements were used.
120. Major Peter Parkes gets his name on the trophy for the first time in 1976. He has since gone on to win it six times - the last in 1993.
121. Brighouse claim their last Open in 1978. They have won the title on six occasions - the first in 1929. A band named Brighouse first appeared at the Open in 1872, but it was not until 1890 that B&R appeared as they are today. They came out of the prizes.
122. Black Dyke first appear in 1856 and this year make their 102nd appearance at the contest, whilst Besses O' th' Barn make an appearance in 1869 coming fourth.
123. The first disqualified band is Harden Mills in 1855, whilst both Black Dyke and Denton Original were given the boot in 1865.
124. In 1864 Stalybridge Old came second to Bacup even though they had no conductor and three of their players took over the duties at various times during the performance on stage.
125. Walter Hargreaves wins his only Open in 1979 with Fairey giving a stormer of "Carnival Romain" to pip Desford and Howard Snell the title. This is the closest Howard Snell came to winning the only major title to elude him.
126. 1980 sees John Pryce Jones win his only Open with Yorkshire Imperial on "Energy". Derek Bourgeios conducts Sun Life into fourth spot and CWS (Manchester) come in the prizes in fifth for the very last time under Frank Renton.
127. Arthur Kenny wins his only Open title in 1981 with City of Coventry who pip a new band called Leyland Vehicles for the title.
128. The last Open at Belle Vue sees City of Coventry take the title for the first and only. David Read also appears in the box for the first time.
129. The Open moves to the Free Trade Hall in 1982 and Besses take the title under Roy Newsome. It is the last time to date that they have won it. They also pick up a cheque for £2000 - worth £8000 at today's value.
130. The famous programme changes design for the first time since 1952 when the Daily Mirror sponsor the contest. It reverts back to the traditional format in 1985, and has stayed much the same ever since.
131. In 1984, Grimethorpe become the first band to win the title a second time on the same test piece. They won on "Comedy" in 1967 under George Thompson. Dyke equal the record in 1986 on Epic Symphony, which they won on in 1976. Grimethorpe are the last winners of the Daily Mirror Trophy, which they could keep as a memento of the victory.
132. CWS (Manchester) appear at the contest for the last time in 1985. They won the contest in 1948, 1952, 1960 and 1966 and first appeared in 1943.
133. 1986 sees two test pieces used for the first time 1867, when two movements from "Epic Symphony" and "Fusions" by Howard Blake are used.
134. 1987 sees "Freedom" used as the set work. "Fireworks" was chosen but dropped by the organisers after more protests from the bands. On June 20th the decision was made and published to use Elgar Howarth's work, but by the 11th July it had been dropped. Progress eh?
135. Fairey's stop a Black Dyke hat trick in 1987 when Roy Newsome steers the band to a two point victory over Fodens and Howard Snell. Dyke come 12th.
136. In 1989 the audience were entertained before the results by the then British Open Solo Champion - one Peter Roberts. Whatever became of him?
137. Garry Cutt becomes the youngest winning conductor at the Open in 1989 when he steers the now defunct Kennedys Swinton to their sole victory. They first appear in 1987 but are gone by the mid 1990's.
138. In 1990 Roy Newsome takes his fifth and last title with Sun Life (another band who's sad demise comes later in the decade). Newsome has a great record of five wins from four bands in three decades. Dyke in 1973 and 1974; Besses in 1982; Fairey in 1987 and Sun Life in 1990.
139. The first Philip Wilby test piece - "Paganini Variations" is used at the Open. "Masquerade", "Revelation" and "Dove Descending " soon follow.
140. James Watson takes his first (of two) Open titles as Dyke regain the title in 1992 on "Cloudcatcher Fells". He takes his second title in 1995 on "Revelation" - the last Dyke victory here.
141. Richard Evans takes his second and last win with BNFL in 1994 - the band he created as they win on "Salamander". His previous victory came in 1975 with Wingates.
142. Black Dykes last victory comes in 1995 with a win over Fairey's and an old band under a new name - Yorkshire Building Society who come third. It's the last contest held at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester.
143. A move to the Bridgewater Hall sees The Marple Band and Garry Cutt take the title playing off last band on in a field of 22. They pip Tredegar into second and BNFL into third. It's the only time the contest is held at the venue.
144. The current venue - Symphony Hall in Birmingham is used for the first time and Yorkshire Building Society take the crown and give David King his first win at the contest. He first appeared with Swinton back in 1987.
145. Williams Fairey give James Gourlay his first win in 1998 and the bands 16th win overall since their first in 1941. They take the crown from Foden's and Brighouse.
146. The 1939 programme foreword has an ominous ring to it. It states "The commencement of hostilities caused a wholesale upheaval in the ordinary life of the nation". Only 9 bands took part on September 30th 1939 and you can now see why.
147. The Millennium Open sees the Open title move away from England for only third time as Buy As You View Cory under debutant conductor Robert Childs take the title. He beats his brother Nicholas into second place - the only other occasion this has been done is in 1956 when Harry Mortimer beat his brother Alex into second spot.
148. The 1948 Contest was the last in which the programme stated "Open to all Amateur Bands". After that the by line was dropped. Did they know something we didn't about "true" amateur players?
149. Legend has it that in 1867 the audience didn't actually hear the winning band, Clay Cross, due to boisterous behaviour by the crowds at the contest. By all accounts there was some bad feeling because of players moving from one band to another (where have we heard that before?) and it took three occasions before the crowd would settle and the band could play. Even then it was so noisy that no one head them. The judges did though and placed them first. It couldn't happen today?
150. Since 1945 many old bands have come and gone. In 50 years time will many of today's bands still be around? Bands that have shed their mortal coil include winners such as Sun Life, Kennedy's Swinton, CWS (Manchester) and Ferodo Works, whilst other exotic names have also perished, such as Sankey Castle Works, Cammail Lairds, ICI (Alkali), Halifax Home Guard, Nutgrove, Transport and General Workers, Butterfield Tank Works, YEWCO, Crossley's Carpets, Scottish Gas Board, 7th A&SH and Morris Motors.
151. In 1901, Alexander Owen gave his address as Arnside House, Stretford Road, Old Trafford, Manchester on the programme. William Rimmer lived in Field House, Southport and John Gladney in 36, Camp Street, Broughton, Manchester. Are the houses still there, and if they are, shouldn't they get a blue plaque or something to commemorate these great men of the brass band world. Perhaps, Alex Owens house is now to be found as part of Old Trafford football ground?
152. 2004 saw the bands have the choice to play one of three test pieces from a list given by the organisers. The only other times this has been done in modern times is 1941 and 1942 when Fairey took the title home with them on both occasions.
153. 2005 sees a great soprano player remembered as Brian Evans name will be on the trophy presented to the best soprano player on the day. It will become an annual presentation.
