Following the grand opening of Wigan Youth Zone in June, Pemberton Old Wigan DW Band has been working in partnership to raise the profile of brass playing in their home town.

Access

The Pemberton Youth Band have exclusive access to the purpose-built band room at the state-of-the-art facility and have already been putting to good use by holding extra rehearsals over the summer.

The first major opportunity the band have to promote the new joint venture will be at the forthcoming Fleetwood contest, when the Youth Band will be sporting specially made t-shirts featuring the logos of both organisations, kindly donated by R Banks and Sons.

Collaboration

This collaboration between the two organisations has been the brain-child of the well known Wigan Athletic Football Club Chairman David Whelan for some years now.

Important

A spokesperson told 4BR: "As a member of Wigan Boys Club in his youth, Dave Whelan knows how important music is for young people.

He has funded the Wigan Youth Zone as a modern equivalent of a Wigan Boys and Girls Club, providing facilities for the young people to engage in numerous activities in a safe environment."

Developing

They added: "On the back of this joint venture, Dave Whelan has renewed his sponsorship for the band, allowing additional funding for the specific purpose of developing our Youth Band in partnership with Wigan Youth Zone."

John Don-Duncan, conductor of the Youth Band and trombonist in the Senior Band, is certainly looking forward to using the funding to bring in what he says are, ‘high quality, experienced tutors’ and to update the Youth Band’s library.

Dave Whelan has renewed his sponsorship for the band, allowing additional funding for the specific purpose of developing our Youth Band in partnership with Wigan Youth ZonePemberton Old Wigan DW Band

Years of partnership

Dave Whelan’s sponsorship of Pemberton dates back several years and during this time the band has enjoyed considerable success.

As Band Secretary John Atkinson added: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Whelan for his financial support and Mr Halliwell of R Banks and Sons for donating the Youth Band t-shirts.

We would also like to thank the countless members of the organisation who give their time to support our projects and who have been instrumental in gaining the recent funding."