There has been a successful pinch of musical Garlick on show of late with the Boarshurst Silver Band.

Although their start to the recent Whit Friday contests was wet and windy (and had a troublesome bus!), it soon brightened up under the baton of their namesake MD, as the band enjoyed a great day at the famous event.

Whit wins

No less than six Third Section wins were claimed under conductor James Garlick at Grotton, Lees, Scouthead, Greenfield, Diggle and Lydgate, a best local deportment prize at Uppermill and best 'Local Oldham Band' award at Lees, to help secure a commendable 16th place overall spot in Saddleworth.

Dutch connection

Enjoying the success were two players and friends of the band — Pieter Enthoven and Ilse de Jong from the Felison Brass Band in Holland, who fly in every year to play, and they were delighted to hear that to help celebrate a busy and successful 165th year, Boarshurst will now travel to Amsterdam for a five day trip to perform with Felison Brass Band in 2016.

This will be a good time for us to relax after a busy 165th year where we won the Area and was successful at Whit FridayMD. James Garlick.

Good time

James Garlick told 4BR: "This will be a good time for us to relax after a busy 165th year where we won the Area and was successful at Whit Friday.

Our concert diary has featured some great new venues and we are proud to be able to represent the North West at the National Finals in September."

No better way

He added: "2016 will start with us being promoted to the Second Section, so we couldn't think of a better way to enjoy that achievement by making the trip to Holland to meet up and play with our Dutch friends."