Worksop Miners Welfare Band

Other Bands in the Worksop area from 1856

The Worksop Journal reported that on Whit Monday 1856, when three Friendly Societies formed a procession, three Bands took part. After the procession to the Parish Church and Divine Service, they dined at various hostelries. The Old Abbey Club dined at the Corn Exchange where Mr Marshall of the Greyhound Inn catered for 240 persons. The Mosbro' Band attended and played appropriate airs after each toast. The Golden Ball Friendly Society dined in their large room.... and the Sherwood Rangers Band contributed to the pleasure of the day. The Wheat Sheaf Club dined at the club room of the Wheat Sheaf Inn, and the Sutton Brass Band very much delighted the Society with their performances.

1871 was a busy year for the Band of the Worksop Rifle Volunteers. In the 20th May edition of the Worksop, Retford and Gainsborough Times, it was reported that the 2nd detachment of the 7th Hussars arrived in Worksop, en route from York to Aldershot. They arrived in Worksop on the Saturday and stayed until Sunday. At 10.00am they paraded in front of the Corn Exchange and marched off to the Abbey Church. The Band of the Worksop Rifle Volunteers kindly lent their services.

On June 3rd of the same year, the Whit Monday processions were headed by three Benefit Societies. The Golden Ball Club was headed by the Band of the Worksop Rifle Volunteers, and on reaching Wheat Sheaf, the Wheat Sheaf Club fell in and was headed by the Harthill Band. Subsequently both Clubs joined the Abbey Sick and Friendly Society, the whole forming an interesting procession, and were marched to the Abbey Church where a very appropriate service was preached by the Reverend E.Hawley.

In 1878 upwards of 100 men and horses of the 20th Hussars arrived in Worksop from Mansfield on their way to Leeds. As they marched into Worksop, the music of their excellent band heralded their arrival. They drew up in front of the Lion Hotel, and the men were despatched to their various Billets. The officers stayed at the Lion Hotel, and in the evening a large group congregated outside the officers mess, expecting the band to provide some entertaining music, as was the usual custom. On this occasion they were disappointed. It was later understood that the officers had been entertained by a Worksop gentleman, and the services of the band was utilised to entertain the officers. At about 6.00am on Tuesday morning, the men mustered outside the Lion Hotel, and shortly afterwards started for Doncaster, the band playing them out of town.

It was reported in the Worksop Guardian of May 8th 1896 that members of the 4th Nottingham Rifle Volunteers held their annual Volunteer Church Parade at the Priory Church. The Battalion Band comprising some 22 performers, under the direction of Bandmaster Belcher headed the procession. In the afternoon the band played a selection in the Marker Square. 

Another band in Worksop was Steel and Garland Priory Foundry Band, whose conductor was Mr E.Russon. On November 18th 1910, the Worksop Old Soldiers Association held their Annual Church Parade, and the Priory Foundry Band took part in the procession, along with the Worksop Town Band and Shireoaks Band. In the evening a concert was given at the Gaiety Theatre. The Priory Foundry Band played selections. Brandman Craven of the Priory Foundry Band received first prize for the smartest Bandsman.

During the same period there was a Druids Church Parade at Worksop. The Smith Pride Lodge of the Sheffield Equalised Independent Druids whose headquarters were at the Market Hotel, held its annual demonstration on Sunday on a large scale. The members numbered 160, they gathered at the Hotel and, headed by the Handsworth Woodhouse Prize Band paraded the streets. They proceeded along Bridge Place, Eastgate, Priorswell Road, Potter Street to the United Free Methodist Church. After the church service the procession continued through Bridge Street, Westgate, Norfolk Street and Newcastle Avenue to the cricket ground, where the Handsworth Woodhouse Band gave a concert, which included such items as:
March - The Roman
Selection per Astra Fideles - Mayerbeer (with cornet solo)
Variations - played by Mr E.Trout
Selection "Comfort ye my people" - Handel
Selection "Kyrie & Gloria" unknown composer
It was mentioned that the band had taken part in four contests that year and had won 5 prizes.

Indeed, on the previous Saturday the Handsworth Band had won 2nd prize at Pleasley in the 'selection' and Mr E.Trout won a silver medal for the best cornet player in the test piece. Much of the success of the band was attributed to the conductor Mr J.W.Coupe. There was a further parade at 5.15pm which proceeded via Bridge Place, Potter Street on to the cricket ground, where the band gave another concert. The programme included the following items:

March - The Cornet
Selection - Warce - R.Smith
Selection - Lucretia Borgia - H.Round
Selection - Trill the Lark - Metcalf
Selection - Mozart - H.Round
March - George the Fire - R.Smith

In 1901 the Worksop Guardian reported on Friday June 7th that the 7th Yeomanry Band under bandmaster H.Holmes was out for the Sunday Church Parade. The men numbered 300 and were inspected by Lord Galway. On July 18th of the same year the Worksop Guardian reported that at Osberton Gardens Mr Paske and his Yeomanry Band provided a musical treat.

On 29th July 1910, the Regimental Band of the Yeomanry played in Worksop under Bandmaster T.W.Renshaw, together with the Battalion Band of the Territorials under Bandmaster Boddice.

Worksop Bands which no longer exist
The previous pages make reference to several Worksop and district Bands which no longer exist:
The Band of the Worksop Rifle Volunteers
The Steel and Garland Priory Foundry Band
The Sherwood Rangers Band

Bands which have formed, disappeared and survived since 1831 
Distribution of Bands within approx. 15 mile radius of Worksop.
* denotes the Band is in existence at the time of writing.

1. Rawmarsh Band
2. Rotherham Town Band
3. *Whiston Brass Band
4. *Maltby Colliery Band
5. *Harworth Colliery Band - now Harworth RJB Band
6. *Dinnington Colliery Band
7. Firbeck Colliery Band
8. * Killamarsh Band
9. Harthill Band
10. *Whitwell Colliery Band - now Whitwell Band
11. Shireoaks Colliery Band
12. *Worksop Salvation Army (Worksop Citadel Band)
13. *Worksop Town Band - now Worksop Miners Welfare Band
14. Band of the Worksop Rifle Volunteers
15. Steel & Garland (Priory Foundry) Band
16. Retford Town Band
17. Clowne Band
18. *Creswell Colliery Band - now Creswell Rexco Band
19 *Welbeck Estates Band
20. Bolsover Colliery Band
21. *Pleasley Colliery Band
22. *Shirebrook Colliery Band
23. *Thoresby Colliery Band – now Thoresby (UK Coal) Band
24. Tickhill Band
25. Bawtry Band

British Legion Military Band - Retford

The photograph below, taken in Retford in 1933, was published in the Retford Times on 26th August 2004. It is unusual for a variety of reasons, mainly the mix of instruments. In addition to the string bass (far right) there are flutes, a bassoon, saxophones, and other woodwind instruments which correctly identifies it as a military band.

It is without doubt a large band, with some 34 musicians, plus a boy scout and one man in civvies who we might presume to be the Chairman or President of the band.

The Bandmaster has been identified (seated directly behind the bass drum) as Mr Albert Cordall.   His brother, Sid Cordall, is shown second from the left on the middle row with a clarinet.

Back Row (L to R) ?, R.Pacey, A.Snowden, L.Burton, J.Naylor, S.Bescoby, A.Spratley, F.Middlebrook, ?Smedley
Third Row (L to R) E.Sullivan, S.Cordall, A.Needham, ?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?, H.Parker
Second Row (L to R) D.Vollands, W.Cohen, ?, W.Saxton, R.Bescoby, A.Cordall (Bandmaster), J.Ainsworth (Secretary), J.Scuttle, ?, E.Palfreman, G.Skelton
Front Row (L to R) young George Skelton (app 13 yrs) F.Redfearne, H.Clarke, ?.

Bands and the Mining Industry