Memory Lane
At the age of nine, I was given by Mr Oliver, the school caretaker, a soprano cornet. It was battered and beaten, had seen far better days and I instantly fell in love with it.
I drove everyone mad playing it but, against all odds, I became quite decent, and by the time I was ten, I was first cornet in the school’s brass band.
Living in South Yorkshire meant that coal-mining was everywhere and, along with that, most pits had their own brass band. Grimethorpe, Carlton Main, Frickley and many others played, marched, raised funds for local causes and competed in competitions.
My local pit was Yorkshire
Main in Edlington. On a dark and rainy Tuesday night in 1972, I and four others from our little brass band piled our instruments into the school minibus and were taken to a full band practice at the pit.
My first thought as I entered the rehearsal room was just how busy it was. There seemed to be people everywhere, lots of chairs in semicircular rows and noise from the chatter and laughter, with people warming up, playing scales and snatches of tunes.
We all felt very nervous and very small.
We were introduced to the bandleader, a small powerhouse of a man called Jack Argyle who had once been principal euphonium player with Fairey Aviation’s brass band and was well respected.
He decided where we would sit and who would help us.
I sat next to a bloke whom I only ever knew as Pud. The reason for this nickname was never explained or questioned. All I know is he spent a lot of his time pointing at the music when I got lost, which was often.
Playing with them was like driving a Formula 1 car when you were used to a bicycle. They were brilliant and talented. They welcomed us kids with good humour and kindness. I will never forget them.
No more than a couple of months after that first rehearsal, I found myself sitting next to Pud on stage, wearing full band uniform, waiting for the curtain to go up at the Gaumont Cinema in Doncaster, to play to a packed audience.
I’ve never been more thrilled or excited in my life. From then on, we travelled up and down the county, playing, marching, raising funds and competing.
As for Pud, well maybe he just liked desserts.
By Graham Bibby, Finningley, South Yorkshire, who receives £50
Readers are invited to send in their own 400-word submissions about the past