Latest News

The band had a very enjoyable day marching through Durham with numerous other bands on the 126th miner’s gala through the city. The band began the day marching through Eppleton, which can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgGj2O2__tY
The band’s performances seemed to be greatly appreciated and, overall, a good day was had by all.

The Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday 9th May 2010 and the new Committee elected as follows.

• Chairman - Aubrey Crowe
• Secretary - Natalie McLean
• Treasurer - Teresa Harris
• Librarian - Catherine McKenzie
• Committee Member - Sam Kirwan
• Committee Member - Julie Anderson

New committee members Sam Kirwan and Julie Anderson are welcomed, replacing Nicola Ternant and Nicole Ponton-Brown who are standing down.

The outgoing Chairman thanks the band and committee members for their support over a very enjoyable two years in the position, and wishes Aubrey the very best for the year ahead.

Band Secretary, Natalie McLean may be contacted by email at backworthcollieryband@hotmail.co.uk.

Backworth Colliery Band took part in the Borders Entertainment Contest, 31st October, in Peebles. The band gave a confident performance, and although not highly placed in the results from a field that included numerous higher-section bands, the Band is showing improvement. A very enjoyable day’s banding, with a well-balanced programme including strong contributions from the Band’s younger players, and everyone entering into the spirit of “entertainment”.

The programme began with “Doyen”, by Goff Richards, written to celebrate the motor coach ‘Doyen’, describing a coach journey making its way through London. Then an arrangement by Leonard Ballantine of the American folk song “Shenandoah”, in his setting entitled “Mid all the Traffic”. The solo piece was “Buster Strikes Back”, in the arrangement by Alan Morrison, lyrically played by Callum Harrison. The band closed impressively with Goff Richards’ arrangement of three American songs in his “An American Trilogy”, popularized by Elvis Presley, with Matthew Fletcher donning an Elvis costume to bring out the true pathos of his euphonium solo.

The Leckie Memorial Church presented a quite reverberant acoustic that clearly hindered other bands, several suffering from over-blowing, muddy articulation, and lack of togetherness with their percussion. Backworth played within the dynamics of the music, allowing their phrasing to bring the music to life and clearly enjoyed their time in front of an audience. With steps forward taken in playing confidence and deportment, the Band now turns to its next challenge at the Durham League Contest in late November.

The Band completed a very busy few days with 3 concerts in 4 days – 6th August at Dalston Summer Fayre, 8th August on the Road March for Hartlepool Headland Carnival, and yesterday the 9th August at Saltwell Park in front of several hundred keen picnickers and brass band afficionados.

The Band gave a very polished evening performance at Dalston, its second year at the Fayre, this time under the expert baton of guest conductor Graeme Tindall. Graeme, resident conductor of Championship section Felling Band, very kindly took the band in rehearsal and for the Dalston concert and was measurably pleased with the results achieved, notably the band’s evident improvement and the development of the younger players. The evening also featured legendary guest percussionist and memory man Bob Stephenson - the band’s very own Gene Kelly – thrilling audience and band alike in his unique interpretation of “Singing in the Rain”. Our thanks to Graeme and Bob.

Saturday saw the Band take part in the Hartlepool Carnival procession, playing on the march over the Headland’s one and half mile route. A testing engagement, given the distance and localised heatwave, but the Band lived up to its “any weather, any distance” reputation and the roar of the cheering crowds more than made up for blisters and sore shoulders as the Band blew through the march pad.

We’re now looking forward to our next engagements – at Hexham Bandstand on 15th, Walkworth Show on 22nd, and back to Saltwell Park Bandstand on Sunday 23rd August.

Well done to those who marched at Durham Gala on Saturday.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable day with many positive comments - from those associated with the band, and also from the general public who came up to us to remark how well we played and how good we looked in our “purple and gold”. Thanks also go to our friends at the Lodge who were especially pleased.

A bracing road march around Hetton – and what seemed like several other villages too – and then competent playing and marching through Durham. Playing at every opportunity this year added to the enjoyment and, coupled with near-telepathic footwork in its marching, the Band did a great job in baking heat.

Our rendition of “Sing” went down very well outside the County, as did the mixture of traditional marches and a few jazzers thrown in elsewhere - “Reet Petite” and “The Muppets” introduced some swing as Sadler Street turned into downtown New Orleans.

Special thanks to “our director” or “officer of the day” Stephen for his batonwork, Nicola for keeping us in order, and Catherine and her team behind the scenes in the library.

Thanks to all concerned.

The line up for the small bands required for the two Walkerville concerts are as follows:

Tony (M.D.)

Teresa
Nicole
Callum
Stephen
Michael
Norman

Catherine
Nicola

Terry
Matthew (Friday only)
Aubrey

Mary (Thursday only)
Christina
Michael (Friday only)

Chris T

Colin

Thursday and Friday, 1930 start, Pinewood Close, Walkerville

Due to unprecedented demand for tickets, there will be an extra date for the annual Backworth Village Hall Christmas Carol concert, at 18:30 on Sunday 21st December. For more details, please see our events page.

The concert booked originally for Monday 22nd December at the North Shields Masonic Hall has been put back a week till 15th December. Please update your diaries.

Bus times as follows for Saturday 12th July:

Widdrington Station: 6.30
Pegswood (Citroen Garage): 6.50
Bedlington (TBC): 7.00
Annitsford (Shell Garage): 7.10
Backworth: 7.15
Boldon: 7.25
Hetton: 8.00

You need marching gear, march cards and hymn books.

Courtesy of Dave Morris, a friend of BBb-Bass player Peter Barker, we have some splendid shots of the band marching in Forest Hall on Sunday 11th November.

Please click here to view the photos.

Notice we are all marching in step!