Dozens of bands out in force for the Whit Friday Marches
FRIDAY, May 25, was an epic occasion for brass bands in the north of England as the local councils, along with an army of volunteers, organise the Whit Friday Marches.
Two areas are involved, with Saddleworth and Oldham helping fund 11 villages, and Tameside also funding 11 villages. Each contest site is an open clear area with an adjudicator in a hut or a tent or in an upstairs room in a pub!
He can hear the band playing but cannot see them so does not not know who the bands are. Each band marches and plays a short distance to the contest space and remains standing as they start to play their chosen march.
The adjudicator has a very difficult job as some contest sites have more than 70 bands competing. After the band plays they rush away to another village and continue doing this in as many villages as possible.
A map for the coach driver is important as he drives from one village to another. This event is absolutely unique and there is prize money for individual players as well as the first, second and third placed bands.
An idea of the magnitude of the occasion can be gauged by seeing the number of bands competing at each of the contest sites in Saddleworth and Oldham.
Delph village had 79 bands taking part and the result was: 1st Brighouse & Rastrick, winning £1,000; 2nd Milnrow, £700; and 3rd Fairey with £400.
Denshaw had 55 bands and the result was: 1st Brighouse & Rastrick, £1,000; 2nd Rothwell, £600; 3rd Fairey, £400; and 4th Langley, £200.
I mention Langley because I played for them many moons ago and was their chairman for a few years. I played with them as a guest in 2008 and we played our last march at 11.45pm.
We were behind Black Dyke and in front of Brighouse – what an experience!
The village of Diggle had 53 bands, Dobcross 63 bands, Friezland 45 bands, Greenfield 71 bands, Grotton 48 bands, Lees and Springhead 37 bands, Lydgate 72 bands, Scouthead and Austerlands 67 bands and Uppermill 52 bands.
A similar situation is mirrored in Tameside, which started at 4pm and ended at 10pm.
By the evening the heavens opened and everyone was soaked, but they’ll be back next year!