Haslingden & Helmshore Brass Band -

Latest News > News 2002

2nd December 2002 - Here Comes the Bride

On Saturday, our Second Euphonium Matt Bailey tied the knot with his fiancee Alison Taylor in the imposing surroundings of Rochdale's gothic Town Hall. The bride entered the ceremony down the magnificent stone staircase accompanied by the band playing Jeremiah Clarke''s Trumpet Voluntary. During the signing of the register the band entertained the guests with incidental music before accompanying the Bride's exit with the Wedding March. The reception was held in the Great Hall and the band played a programme of music to accompany the meal before the speeches and the rest of the formalities took place.

We would like to wish them the very best for the future.

25th November 2002 - Vacancies

Yesterday we were sorry to learn that we have lost our flugel horn player Philip Sharples and his two young sons, Richard on horn and Stuart, our youngest member, on cornet. We are therefore now looking for a horn player and a cornet player. Anybody interested in attending an audition for the positions should either email us on info@haslingdenband.co.uk or ring Andrea Holland, our Secretary on 01706 210490.

25th November 2002 - NWABBA Manchester District Contest

Yesterday the band made the relatively short journey to Wardle High school for the NWABBA Manchester District contest. The contest is an own choice contest and we had chosen to play Diversions - Variations on a Swiss Theme by Philip Sparke. We took to the stage as the last band in a small field of just 3 bands. After our performance there were mixed feelings in the band regarding it''s merits but a general consensus was that it could have gone better. We were therefore quite pleased to take 2nd place and continue our run of reasonable results in our first year in the second section. Our recent results show that we deserve our place in the second section and can certainly hold our own in this section.

28th October 2002 - Pontins Contest

Yesterday we joined the hundreds of foolish bandsmen fighting their way through the howling gales and torrential rain at the Pontins contest in Prestatyn. We had drawn number 19 so we were able to leave Haslingden at the semi-respectable time of 8am. We took to the stage at approx 1 o'clock and we were quite pleased with the performance which earned us 5th place out of 21 bands. As this is our first year in the second section this is very encouraging, especially coming on the back of our 3rd place at the Regionals in March.

Special mention must go to our newest member, Stuart Sharples, who at 9 years old won the prize for the youngest player in the 2nd Section. He came away with a shield even though the band didn't!

30th September 2002 - New Members

We are pleased to welcome our latest recruit, Stuart Sharples, who joins his elder brother Richard and father Phil in the band. Stuart plays cornet and takes the position of 3rd Cornet.

1st August 2002 - New Members

Good news! The band is back to full strength again. We are pleased to welcome into the band Brian Topping on Soprano and Martin Crankshaw on Eb Bass. Also, as a result of my return to the instrument I know best (I have been promoted to 2nd Triangle!!), the vacancy on 2nd Euphonium has now been filled by Matt Bailey.

1st June 2002 - Vacancies

We now have vacancy for an Eb Bass player. Kath, one of our current Eb players is unfortunately leaving us to pursue a career in Midwifery and we would like to wish her all the best. Anyone interested in the position should either email us on info@haslingdenband.co.uk or ring Andrea Holland, our Secretary on 01706 210490.

24th May 2002 - Whit Friday Contests

I have a good idea someone says, lets do Whit Friday without having a drink! @#*!@&* was the reply from 25 players. Okay, he tried again, lets compromise and set off early, race round the contests, finish at 9.30 and then have a drink or six. Mmmmmm, okay was the reluctant response and that was what we did. 9.30 and ten contests later we had a second section first and third prize (Greenacres & Scouthead respectively) and the rest of the evening to sample the beer and the bands at the Hawthorn Inn in Roundthorn. A successful evening all round.

11th March 2002 - Vacancies

The band is now looking for a Soprano player to complete what is otherwise a full band. Anybody interested in attending an audition for the position should either email us on info@haslingdenband.co.uk or ring Andrea Holland, our Secretary on 01706 210490.

10th March 2002 - North West Area Regional Qualifiers

In our first season in the second section we are overjoyed to have been placed 3rd out of 14 bands at the qualifiers in Blackpool. All our hard work over the preceding months paid off as the band gave a very good performance of Victor Ewald's Symphony For Brass, greatly helped by a correct interpretation of the piece by our musical director David Holland. Although we are disappointed to have missed out on a qualifying place to Torquay by just one point, the band can be very proud of what they have achieved.

1st February 2002 - New Members

After many years of service to the band, our two tenor trombones have now decided to retire from playing. We are pleased to have found replacements for them and we welcome Phil Shatliff as a new member and welcome back Andrea Wilkinson. In her banding career Andrea has played with Slaidburn, Stacksteads, Haslingden and most recently Skipton Properties Band. She joins us once again in the position of Solo Trombone. Phil has also played with a number of good bands over the years including British Aerospace and Mossley. He will be taking the position of 2nd Trombone.