Fishburn Band’s 60th anniversary celebration year comes to an end this weekend with a spectacular concert at the Gala Theatre in Durham.

The event celebrates the six decades of music making by the band and is sponsored by Geneva Instruments.

Proud history

A spokesperson told 4BR that the concert rounded off a wonderful year that recalled a proud brass band history.

“The forming of a brass band had been talked about for many years within the village of Fishburn,” they said.

“A group of work mates at Fishburn Colliery got together and set out looking for help and support from local organisations. Their hard work and persistence paid off when following a meeting at the HQ of the Colliery Board in Durham, the local Workingmen’s Club in Fishburn agreed to offer an interest free loan to the Fishburn Colliery Federation Board.

This loan was to be repaid within twelve months and was paid for in full by miners at the Colliery, who agreed to a small deduction from their wages each week. On 26th January 1954 an agreement was signed and so Fishburn Band became a reality.”

Miners agreed to a small deduction from their wages each week. On 26th January 1954 an agreement was signed and so Fishburn Band became a reality4BR

Future progress

The present day set is going from strength to strength and this weekend sees the launch of the RMT Fishburn Academy Band (RMT F.A.B), which hopes to help secure the next 60 years of Fishburn history.