One of the most popular regional brass band contests in the country reaches a landmark this weekend, with the 50th running of the Buxton Brass Band Festival on Sunday 27th April.
What the Romans did for us
Founded by the Romans who enjoyed its warm waters, the famous Derbyshire spa town has been home to a great brass band contest day for half a century.
Although the later Easter date and the Spring Festival has had an effect on numbers this year, there is still a healthy turn out of contenders in four sections eager to get their hands on the generous prize funds available for the podium finishers and best soloists.
Early start
The day starts at the Octagon Theatre in the Pavilion Gardens at 10.15am with Mike Kilroy in the box as seven bands in the Fourth Section deliver their own choice selections to see if they can win the £450 first prize and take home the Charles H Kitchen Trophy.
Mike then has six well matched Third Section contenders to enjoy as they seek to pick up the exotically named Tarmac Trophy and £450 first prize.
Well matched
The vastly experienced David Horsfield then takes over for the Second Section, where four bands battle for the Octagon Catering Cup and £450, whilst there is sure to be a close battle in the combined First/Championship Section with a trio of bands looking to be crowned the 50th Buxton Champion and take home the Brian Stead & Gordon Nelson Trophy plus the nice wodge of £450.
Founded by the Romans who enjoyed its warm waters, the famous Derbyshire spa town has been home to a great brass band contest day for half a century4BR
Competing bands:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: David Horsfield
Draw: 4.30pm
Start: 5.30pm (approx)
Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield)
Bollington Brass (Peter Christian)
Whitworth Vale & Healey (John Binns)
Second Section:
Adjudicator: David Horsfield
Draw: 2.30pm
Start: 3.30pm (approx)
Bakewell Silver (Roland Spencer)
Besses Boys (James Holt)
Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Matlock (Andrew Dennis)
Royal Buckley Town (Scott Lloyd)
Third Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy
Draw: 12.00 noon
Start: 1.00pm (approx)
Blackpool Brass (Tariq Ahmed)
Dinnington Colliery (Jonathan Beatty)
Greenall's (P. Boardman)
Hawk Green (Marple) (Neil Hewson)
Old Hall Brass (John North)
Stalybridge Old (James Hunter)
Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy
Draw: Pre-drawn
Start: 10.15am
Deepcar Brass (Lindon Bolt)
Fairfield (Buxton) (Charles W Kitchen)
Formby (Louise Hough)
Greenfield (Tom Haslem)
Ifton Colliery (Wayne Rushton)
Maltby Miners Welfare (Terry Clifford)
Pleasley Colliery (Keith Buxton)
Whaley Bridge (Matt Shaw)
