The great grand-daughter of a former conductor of the Chapeltown Silver Cross Band has asked the readers of 4BR to see if they can help resolve something of a family mystery.

Golden cornet

It is believed that Thomas Steel was the bandmaster at Chapeltown Silver Cross Band who also played on a special ‘golden’ cornet in the early part of the last century.

When he died aged just 52 in March 1909, there was a large funeral cortège and service with his coffin carried on a horse drawn hearse.

However, it is the grave stone (above) at Burncross Chapeltown cemetery that still bears the engraved image of his famous cornet that makes the family so proud and intrigued — and has prompted their efforts to find out more about him

Respected

His great grand-daughter Joyce Moore, who now lives in Canada told 4BR: "We know that he was well known and respected, but we have since found out that he played what was described as a ‘golden’ cornet’, which fits in with the headstone engraving.

We would love to find out more about him, as we have a picture of him holding his cornet, but nothing more."

We know that he was well known and respected, but we have since found out that he played what was described as a ‘golden’ cornet’, which fits in with the headstone engravingJoyce Moore

Get in touch

If anyone can help please get in touch with us at 4BR to help solve a mystery...