How many of the eight bands that won on Gilbert Vinter’s 'Salute to Youth' in 1962 do you think are still with us then?

Champions

The North West champions were the great CWS (Manchester), who took the title under Alex Mortimer for the sixth time in eight years. They then went on to win the National title itself.

In Yorkshire (or the North East as it was called then) it was Crossley Carpet’s Works conducted by John Harrison who went on to come runner up at London in the October.

Brilliantly named

In the West of England, yet another band no longer with us won through – the brilliantly named 383 Field Regiment Royal Artillery (TA) Band conducted by Warrant Officer Class 1, A. Davies. They didn’t trouble the judges come the finals.

The North West champions were the great CWS (Manchester), who took the title under Alex Mortimer for the sixth time in eight years4BR

Four Little Maids

The Northern Champions were Cowpen & Crofton conducted by John Carr (he of ‘Four Little Maids’ fame), who had risen up through the sections in the previous few years, winning through to their fifth successive finals from Fourth to Championship since 1958. They didn’t come anywhere.

In Scotland it was Kinneil Colliery, who won the Scottish Championship for the first time that year conducted by Drake Rimmer. They didn’t come in the frame either.

Neither did Cory who took the Welsh title that year, and made it a hat trick of wins under W.A. Scholes.

Car industry

The car industry was still booming in 1962 in the UK, and it was Morris Motors who won through from London – conducted by the great Stanley Boddington. It was their ninth regional victory, but they came nowhere at the Albert Hall.

Finally, the Midlands saw the newly named GUS (Footwear) Band take the title under ‘Stan the Man’ – it’s seventh win. They didn’t come in the prizes either.

Five out of eight

Out of eight then – five have since disappeared and three have survived, with the possibility that one or all, of Cory, GUS and Kinneil could taste another victory on ‘Salute to Youth’, 47 years after their first this year.