Worksop Miners Welfare Band

In 1924 the Band won 3rd and 2nd at Sheffield contests, and in 1925 under the baton of Mr Clyde Pressley, the band won at Ripley Rotherham and Sheffield.

The Band was then promoted from Section C to Section B of the Sheffield Bands Association, and in the late 1920's won at most of the festivals in the neighbourhood, as well as at Sheffield, Pleasley, Doncaster and Gainsbrough. It is reported that on more than one occasion the Band held its own against bands competing in section A.

This hectic period of contesting accounts for the trophies now in the Band’s possession, two of which were presented by local firms for competition in Worksop.

Worksop & Retford Brewery Challenge Cup	Worksop Guardian Challenge Shield

Success in competition was also reflected in a change of name to Worksop Silver Prize Band but the storm clouds were gathering over the future of the band. 1927 saw a flurry of correspondence with the Worksop Guardian over the cost of servicing a loan taken out in 1922 for the purchase of new instruments and an outstanding debt of £120 + 5% pa.

On Friday 29th April 1927, the Worksop Guardian printed the following letter:

"Dear Sir, 
I see by the advertisement in the Guardian that the famous Creswell Colliery Band is coming to Worksop on Sunday May 8th, to give two sacred concerts on the cricket ground. To all lovers of music, this should be a great musical treat. 

“The hundreds of prizes and trophies the band has won, stamp them one of the best bands in the land, and one who has attended the contests at Crystal Palace several times during the last 21 years.

“I understand the engagement will entail considerable expense but the figure I have had quoted to me seems a very reasonable one for such a talented band, and shows that they are prepared to do their best to help a neighbouring band. Also we cannot forget that they have given their services free to help the Victoria Hospital and the outing fund at Kilton for the old folks.

“The remark has often been made in my hearing that Worksop is not musical, but the facts speak for themselves. The attendance when Creswell Band was at the Miners Welfare Show a few weeks ago, the brilliant success of the North Notts Musical Competitions and the Concert given by Mr Hill and his Orchestra and the Worksop Artistes in the Picture House, speak for themselves, and I know they were much appreciated. Neither do I forget the first contest held by the Town Band, since its re-organisation, when lots of people sat for hours to listen to a repetition of the selection by several bands competing. I say give the Worksop people the right stuff and they will support it.

“I understand the Worksop band are making special efforts to wipe out the debt on their new instruments this year, and are working very hard in that direction. It is up to us who love music to assist them in their efforts by our attendance at concerts and by our subscriptions when possible and I trust that when they are cleared of their debts, they will use their efforts to try to get together a band which will eventually compete in the same class as Creswell. This can be done if the people of Worksop and district will give their support. I trust the weather will be favourable and that the public will turn up in their thousands if only as an appreciation of the Creswell Band, for the many sacrifices they have made for charities in Worksop, and also a reward for the untiring efforts which are being made by the officials of the Town Band”

Yours faithfully
G.Sharp


By way of reply, the Worksop Guardian printed a follow-up letter on the following Friday, 6th May, 1927

Dear Sir
Having read in the Guardian a letter signed by 'G.Sharp' last week, I would like to reply through your valuable newspaper. My sincere thanks to the writer of that letter, it gives be great pleasure to know that Worksop has people with real sporting spirit.

There is not the slightest doubt that give Worksop people the goods and they will support it to the utmost, and that is one of the efforts of the Worksop Town Prize Band - to give the people a chance of hearing a band that ranks with the best bands in Great Britain. We have appealed several times to the public to help us wipe off the debt on our instruments, which is holding us back. This done, we shall be able to extend our efforts in the brass band world. It is up to the public of Worksop and district to give Creswell Prize Band a real good welcome to both afternoon and evening concerts. Do as 'G.Sharp' says, come in thousands, support our efforts land hear music as it should be played.

Yours truly,
M.E.Dixon (Secretary)

The following advertisement appeared in the Worksop Guardian of Friday April 29th 1927:

"Worksop Silver Prize Band
Instrument Fund
Great attraction
Two Sacred Concerts by the Creswell Colliery Institute Prize Band
on Sunday May 8th 1927 on the Cricket Ground Worksop at 2.45pm and 7.45pm
Admission 1/- & 6d
Mrs Faulks Cafe, 75 Bridge Street, Worksop
will be OPEN for TEAS during the day.

A further published letter from the Secretary Mr E.Dixon read as follows:

Dear Sir,
Further help would be greatly appreciated. The following is a statement of income and expenditure in connection with the concert given by the Creswell Colliery Institute Band on May 8th 1927, in aid of the Worksop Town Band.

We think the profit of £6-3-0 aught to have been more considering the great name the Creswell Colliery Institute Band has made for itself all over the Country, and which they splendidly upheld on the occasion of these two concerts.

E.Dixon

Another letter was printed in the Worksop Guardian on May 13th 1927:
"Creswell Colliery Institute Prize Band concerts on the Cricket Ground Worksop in aid of the Worksop Town Band. In view of the wide popularity of the noted Creswell Colliery Institute Prize Band, and the enthusiasm which has always greeted their visits to the town, it was most surprising that the concerts given by the Band on the Cricket Ground on Sunday did not attract larger crowds. The weather was beautiful, both in the morning and in the evening, and under the direction of Mr David Aspinall, the band provided two delightful concerts - a musical treat which fully justified an audience of many 100's. The concerts were promoted by the Worksop Town band in aid of their instrument fund, and it must be disappointing to them that the public did not show greater appreciation of their enterprise. 

"The audience in the afternoon was particularly disappointing. This does not mean however that there was any distraction from the music provided. A feature of both concerts was the tasteful variety of items, and the pleasing opportunities given to all the instrumentalists. The noted lightening trombonists Mr Arthur Smith and Mr Peter Fearnley the noted Cornet Soloist, each gave two solo's in the afternoon and Master Joe Farrington (Britains greatest boy Cornet Soloist, and Mr Frank Webb, the renowned Euphonium soloist adding to the excellence of the evening programme. The Band contributed a matter of 10 items in each programme, and justly roused unstinted applause. In the evening they played "Macbeth" arranged by Dr Keighly, the test piece on which they won the Bell Vue Championship, including a £2,000 Gold Shield and a 50 guineas Trophy and £150 cash prize."

A further letter to the Worksop Guardian on May 20th 1927 from the organising secretary of the band Mr E.Dixon reads as follows:

Dear Sir
I shall be more than obliged if you will spare me space once again in your valuable paper. What I really want is the public of Worksop and district to know the exact financial position of the Town Band to date. It is now five years since it purchased a new set of instruments on, in the true sense of the word, the easy payments system. At present we owe the firm £120 with a %5 interest per annum added. The Committee and bandsmen readily agree that we have not paid our account as it should have been paid, as per our agreement. This being a Colliery Town, we had a great setback last year 1926, owing to the Coal Dispute, and I can safely say, the Band did all they could in their playing, to help the Children's Feeding Fund, free of charge. Accordingly I feel sure that no one in Worksop would like the Town Band to surrender their instruments, owing to not being able to meet the payments, and no-one can say the Band and Committee have not endeavoured to reduce that account by Whist Drives, Dances etc. We even went to the expense of engaging the famous Creswell Colliery Institute Band for two concerts, but unfortunately these were not successful.

Since our balance sheets have been sent our, we have had a good response to our appeal. Below I give a list of subscribers and I shall be more than grateful for every penny subscribed to the Band, as our aim is to clear the debt off by the end of 1927.

List of subscribers since January 21st 1927:

Mr J.T.Shardlow £5-5-0
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle £3-0-0
Mr L.H.Allen £1-1-0
Worksop & Retford Brewers £2-0-0
Councillor T.Fullard £1-0-0
Councillor J.White 10-0
Mr F.Lawman 10-0

Messrs F.Atherton, C.V.Berry, F.C.Wellacott, W.Knowles, J.Haslam, H.A.Borrowdale, E.J.Ellis, J.H.Storey, R.T.North, F.W.Welham, A.W.Kirkham all 5/- each.
Mr A.Kelley 3/- Messrs J.H.Woodhall, A.Friend, J.H.Smith, C.Godfrey, E.J.White, J.Morrison, W.Gunn, H.Wilkinson, D,Stacey, A.Tank, W.E.Parkin, W.E.Grimshaw all 2/6d each
Messrs G.Warnick, E.Lane, H.Smith, F.E.Black, J.W.Freeman, A.Hunt, J.Stringfellow & Mrs Wilkinson 2/- each
Messrs J.Callaghan, G.Laws, A.Kettingham, H.Ellis 1/- each.

If any Lady or Gentleman would like a balance sheet of the year ending 1926 I shall be pleased to let them have one by applying at the address below, or to Mr F.Handley, Band Secretary, Bridge Street, or Mr G.Lee, 46, Church Walk.

E.Dixon Organising Secretary 10, Welbeck Street.

The situation was clearly resolved in due course and Messrs Boosey and Hawke's account cleared. The crisis also encouraged the Band to appoint trustees to secure the future of its assets, and a legal document was drawn up which remains in force today, requiring the Band to appoint succeeding trustees for that purpose.

On Sunday evening June 5th an open air concert was given by the Worksop Town Band in a field at Woodend, kindly lent by Mr W.Martin. There were collections for band funds and for the Rhodesia Prize Jazz Band Fund.

The Worksop Manor Fete on Whit Monday June 6th 1927 was attended by Worksop Town Silver Prize Band.

On July 30th 1927, the third Annual Brass Band Contest took place in Worksop promoted by the Band. At the time the General Secretary was Mr F.Handley and the Organising Secretary Mr E.Dixon. Thanks were expressed for additional subscriptions to the instrument fund. In addition to the amount previously acknowledged £19-16-6 further amounts had been received from:-

Councillor F.S.Dobbs 10/6d
Mr Woodward 10/-
Messrs G.Tomlinson, B.Wind, A.L.Toyne & Dr A.R.White 5/- each.
Messrs Varley, Haywood & Raynor 2/6d.

Between 1925 and 1927 three Annual Brass Band contests were held in Worksop, promoted by the Worksop Silver Prize Band.
It was during this period that three more trophies came into the Band’s possession.

The Challenge Cup	The Martin “Challenge” Cup	the Sheffield & District Band Association Cup, won by the Band outright on July 22nd 1923.

Other Local Bands

Bands and the Mining Industry