BANDROOM NOTES - Clifton and Lightcliffe Brass Band

ISSUE 8
B u s in e s s N am e
C li ft on & Li g h t c li f f e Ba n d
1
A u t u mn 201 5
B ANDROOM N OTES
~ Welcome to the Autumn edition of our newsletter ~
Busy Summer for both bands
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
1
Busy Summer
The Italian Job
2/3
The Italian Job continued
4/5
More from Italy
6/7
Our Presidents View
8/9
Wedding/B Band and
Presentation evening
10/11
Contacts/CDs etc
12/13
Spotlight and Annual
Concert
14/15
Engagements
Rehearsals
Senior Band
• Tuesday & Thursday
8pm—9.45pm
B Band
• Fridays
7.00pm—8.15pm
• Sundays
10am—12.15pm
• www.cliftonband.co.uk
16
Since our last edition of the band newsletter at the end of June there has been
a lot happening.
Both bands have been busy with summer engagements and our major fund
raising event at the Brighouse Gala which this year celebrated their 50th
anniversary was a great success. We also welcomed Linda and Norm Taylor
visiting us once again from the Golden State British Brass Band in California,
they visit us each year before travelling on to the Music Summer School at
Framlingham for a week.
Our B Band played at two new venues this summer Pudsey Park which had
around 250 people sitting around listening and the Heritage Day at Upper
Hopton Mirfield.
The senior band travelled to Italy at the beginning of August for a 7 day
concert tour around the shores of Lake Maggiore, you can read about it in this
edition. We have also released a new CD, Live in Concert from our Italian visit which is now available to purchase at £7.50 each.
Our Annual Concert is on Saturday 17th October at Central Methodist
Church Brighouse, our special guests are ‘Encore’ a 12 piece singing cabaret
group. Tickets are £7.00 each and are available now or on the door.
Our calendar continues to fill up and we now have plenty of concerts for 2016
which you can see on our web-site www.cliftonband.co.uk. Before these we
have the Christmas season which will soon be upon us and we hope to see you
at one of our concerts.
2
The Italian Job… da dietro le quinte.
Lyndon Stacey
Our behind the scenes look at the Band’s Italian trip begins, where
else, with a coffee. Not an espresso or a cappuccino, but a Bradford
‘white with 2 sugars’ special, as it was at St George’s Hall that I first
met John and Jane Clay. They had taken time out from their
organizational, playing and conducting duties that day during the
2014 Area Championships to meet with me and explain their idea.
On paper it seemed simple. We would just load 50-something
musicians, instruments and supporters onto a plane, put them in a
hotel on Lake Maggiore, arrange some tourist activities for them, and
do 3 or so concerts in front of local audiences who probably had no
idea what a Brass Band even was.
Infected by their enthusiasm I of course agreed to help, even if the
immensity of the task did begin to dawn on me as the day wore on.
But by the end of the weekend my own band had been crowned Yorkshire area champions, putting
me in a positive enough mood to try, and John had led Clifton and Lightcliffe ‘B’ to a fantastic victory
from the number 1 draw in the 4th Section, proving that anything is possible if you put in the hard
work. Back in Italy a few days later, then, I began drawing up a plan.
My own Italian band was an obvious starting point. They were interested in the idea of a joint concert,
but brought up an issue which I had not really considered but which was to fill me with trepidation for
months to come – we would have to change the dates because Italy turns into a pumpkin for the entire
month of August! It’s true – no bands are operative in that period as the players all go on holiday as the
nation shuts down for summer. But with the first week of August the only one feasible for us, I would
just have to push on regardless.
It was clear, then, that we would potentially have to get by without much local support, and, if we
wanted audiences, we would have to go to them rather than expect them to come to us. Tourist areas
therefore leapt to the top of my list over the major towns I am well connected in – the only problem
there being that I would have to throw away my well-furnished address book and start a new one from
scratch!
Concert project number one was a no-brainer. Condino in the far north east of Italy represented a
hot-bed of interest in Brass Bands. A delegation from the town had been in Bradford as supporters of
Brighouse and Rastrick at the 2013 areas and had stayed in the hall to listen to every single band from
4th Section to Championship – so I knew I may be able to pencil them in for a concert. When I called
Ferdinando Bagozzi (a euphonium player whose fondest memory of life is the time when I managed to
smuggle him on stage for a ‘selfie’ at the Royal Albert Hall before the 2013 National Finals began) he
bit my hand off. The team in Condino mobilized immediately. We would use the wonderful theatre
built for the local band (Il Corpo Musicale Giuseppe Verdi di Condino) and details would be hammered
out during John and Jane’s forthcoming fact-finding trip to Italy.
Concert number 2 saw me poring over a map of the Lake Maggiore area. Laveno Mombello, Luino,
Sesto Calende, Angera – all good sized tourist towns on my side of the lake – or even Ispra. So letters
and e-mails duly went off to mayors and cultural assessors in each town. The first to reply was Ispra, a
small town but which is home to ‘Euratom’, a European Union scientific research centre which, while
seemingly doing little else than measure wind speeds and take off every European bank holiday going,
nevertheless has hundreds of workers from the UK, Scandinavia, Holland, Austria… all places where
there are Brass Band’s.
My first meeting was to be with the Mayor, her Cultural Assessors (government-speak for Cultural
Events Organisers), her Communications Officers (spin-doctors), and the Presidents of the Pro Loco
and the Amici della Sponda Magra – 2 local volunteer groups who she felt might be able to lend a
hand.
3
Having learnt to put on a tie, I presented myself at the exquisite 19 th Century chamber used for local
council deliberations, expecting to meet Anne Widdicombe’s twin sister. My nerves were, however,
calmed by the cheerful and very attractive young lady who met me at the door, warmly shook my hand,
and led me into the meeting room. “I’m Melissa” she beamed as she sat down at the head of the table.
“Please don’t give any of that ‘Lady Mayoress’ nonsense”.
Lateral thinking led me to concert venue number 3. If we were looking for a hotel with a list of top
facilities, why not add ‘Conference Room’ to that list? Some hard negotiating could potentially be done
– we bring you 50 guests to the hotel if you give us the right price, and if you give us a conference room
for free in which to do a concert, we will do our best to fill it with an audience which will spend
thousands in the bar after the concert (or during, if we are not on form). The Hotel Regina Palace, with
its marble colonnades, decorative façade, central position, indoor and outdoor pools and self-pampering
centre (or ‘Health Club’ as they call it) fit the bill perfectly (and the ‘spending thousands in the bar’ part
was more than feasible too – at those prices myself and Stewart Swallow did it most nights, although
that is another story!). Hotel Manager Signor Daniele was more than enthusiastic and, with Jane
getting on his case from an economic perspective, we soon had a deal.
With the skeleton plan now in place it was time to dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘T’s. A second visit to Italy
by John and Jane saw us firm up the concert plans, engage the coach company, and fix the hotel menu.
I cracked on with finding Sponsors for publicity in the form of my own company, but also G&P wind
instruments, a local artisan brass instrument producer. Posters and programmes were drawn up as
John, myself and the Condino group agreed the programme. ‘West Riding’ was to be included at the
request of Condino’s B&R patrons, as was the ‘Floral Dance’. The second movement of
‘Brass Triumphant’, which the ‘A’ band had played at the 2013 areas was also to make the list. John
very kindly and enthusiastically arranged the Italian National Anthem for Brass Band, and 2 pieces very
close to the hearts of the folks of Condino – ‘Inno al Trentino’ (the ‘unofficial’ national anthem of the
Trentino Region of Italy) and ‘Giudicarie’ (a march written by one of the founder members of the
Condino band for the valley the town is situated in). And then there was the question of me… the folks
of Condino were never going to let me out of the place alive unless I played something!
An initial idea of what I could play was drawn up in that hotbed of Brass Band decision-making,
Wetherspoons Public House in Brighouse. Pam Lumb looked on somewhat bemused as myself and
Stewart Swallow tossed around ideas of a tenor horn and soprano cornet duet, or perhaps a horn and
flugelhorn duet, all of which seemed to become even better ideas the more we drank. By the end of the
evening it had been decided – good old John Clay would be brow-beaten into arranging a version of
‘Deep Inside the Sacred Temple’ for us, and we would take to the stage under a very witty (and oddly
apt) stage name. Ever the guardian of common sense (and predominantly sober), John determined that
another duet would work far better for Horn and Flugel, and a suitable piece was duly arranged).
All that remained to do was to manage the odd minor crisis – such as the road to where we were due to
play in Ispra being washed away in a devastating storm which hit the area in early summer, leading us
to need to find a new venue - and grappling with Italian bureaucracy. Odd as it may sound, even if none
of the arrangers of any of the pieces played at the 3 concerts get anything back from the Italian
Performing Rights Society (that would be tough, given that many if not most are dead!), and even if the
concerts were free, we still had to pay €130 euros to them to have the right to perform. Further tangles
with local authorities then occurred over the right to put up advertising posters and hand out fliers, but
common sense (and bribes) eventually won the day, and by the time the band landed in Verona, we were
all set.
4
Many moments of the Band’s week in Italy will remain with me forever as treasured memories. I made
many new friends – friends I still think of every day. But if I have to pick out some highlights, I would
say:
- Seeing a steady stream of people heading for the specially erected marquee in Ispra, and realizing
the publicity had worked, and all our efforts would be rewarded;
-Those first few lines of ‘West Riding’ being played so powerfully and enthusiastically to open
that first concert. It was finally happening!;
-President Brian Nicholson’s utter glee at getting to kiss the cheek of the aforementioned ‘cheerful
and very attractive’ lady Mayor of Ispra, when he had previously enquired as to whether a kiss
on the hand might be appropriate;
-Brian’s heart-felt words of thanks being pronounced in near-perfect Italian to the President of the
Condino Band, cementing a friendship I feel sure will endure as long as the 2 wonderful bands
themselves;
-The emotion on the faces of Condino musician Stefano Bordiga and Musical Director Giuseppe
Radoani as they were invited to conduct ‘Inno al Trentino’ and ‘Giudicarie’ respectively to end
that concert;
-A phone call received the following day from a descendant of the original composer of ‘Giudicarie’
to say he felt that the piece had finally been played exactly the way his great grandfather had
intended;
-Finally getting to play ‘Flower Duet’ with my old pal Stewart. Our stage name? Twito and
Twa… (Sorry – can’t reveal the rest for censorship reasons);
At the end of it all, though, the best memory of all will be the fact that the Band enjoyed itself so much.
There is no greater reward possible than that. Everyone played superbly and gave it their all, and in 3
concerts the team played to well over a thousand people who expressed their gratitude and enjoyment
by purchasing over 100 band CDs. We took a little piece of Yorkshire to Lake Maggiore and came back
winners – and I, for one, can’t wait for John and Jane to call me again next time.
Below—Full house at Condino for a great
concert
Above—Me with the team who made
Condino possible. Thanks guys.
5
Good times in Italy. Top left team work in the pool,
Lyndon and Stewart, the easy way to get percussion
from the third floor and presentations on the last
night. Above Stephanie and Stephen riding on the
Alpyland, President Brian Nicholson and his wife
Pat. Below is Bethany our newest member of the
percussion team watch out guys and at the bottom is
the band auditioning to be in the latest of the
Raiders films, I wonder which one is Indiana Jones!!
6
Our last night aperitifs and canapes before our farewell dinner and flight home. Paul photo-bombing
and Stephen our photographer with family Joanne and Stephanie. Below are more photos of our visit.
Page 7
What a long day…………. Paul Addy
It was day four of our band tour, 9th August 2015 and today we were off on the
coach to Condino in the region of Trentino to do a concert for the members of
the Il Corpo Musicale Giuseppe Verdi di Condino based there.
We had breakfast as usual to set us up for what was to be the longest day of
our trip so far, even beating the day we set off from Brighouse a few days
earlier. We boarded the coach at 10am and as usual some of the band members
were asleep within minutes of the coach setting off, yet again!
The coach travelled passed Milan, down the motorway almost to Verona
airport our arrival and departure airport before turning into the hills passing
through many lovely villages, passed lakes and finally arriving in Condino at
the concert hall about 1.30pm. Just to signpost to what is coming later, that’s
a three and a half hour journey and the concert starts at 9pm.
On arrival there were a few very excited gentleman waving their arms in the
air welcoming us to their village and eventually herding us into the hall laid
out as a dining room with many tables and oh! is that wine I could see too. We
immediately sat down and poured a glass of wine, well me and Jonathan and a
few others did, this was then followed by trays of barbecued meat and polenta,
what a feast.
Following dinner we got back on the coach and were taken to an open air
museum. It was a steep climb to the first building which was the blacksmiths.
We were split into groups and our guide showed us how all the equipment worked including the water
wheel which powered the hammer used to flatten objects. Our guide made a leaf and gave it to someone
in our party. We then all went up to the mill and shown the different ways in which the wheat etc.
would be ground.
Once back at the hall we gathered to have a run through some of the pieces for tonight, including our
guest player Lyndon rehearsing a duet with our solo horn player, Stuart Little, oops sorry I mean
Stuart Swallow.
After the rehearsal it was a case of getting ready and waiting for the crowds to gather, and we waited
and we waited. Eventually it got to 9.10pm and we had still not started. Lyndon came back stage and
said we couldn’t start until the priest had arrived from evening mass with the rest of his congregation.
Eventually at 9.15pm the hall was packed and we were allowed to get on stage and start the concert.
The playing was good and the crowd was seemingly enjoying it. We play a trick on one Stefano Bordiga
who is the conductor of the band in the next village, he was asked to come and conduct, I have never
seen anyone resist so much with so much excitement, ‘Inno al Trentino’, was the piece which we
deliberately played very badly when we started much to the delight and amusement of the audience.
The Musical Director of the Condino band Giuseppe Radoani also conducted ‘Giudicarie’ before the
concert ended at about 11.15pm. We received a very warm standing ovation finishing off a great
evening of music.
After various presentations and getting off the stage it was back to the dressing room where our hosts
had very kindly laid out food and drink for us. Bearing in mind that we had to be back on the coach by
midnight you can imagine how much food was being scoffed and how the wine was flowing.
Back on the coach we waved goodbye to our hosts and set off on the journey ahead. Now by this point I
had had a few glasses of the old Italian vino and was ready for sleeping. So… I instigated a singalong of
I am the Musicman, most people were joining in and the fun bus was in full swing but it only lasted one
song then no one wanted to join in after this all I could hear was snoring it was then that I fell asleep.
We arrived back at the hotel at 3.50am and therefore ending the longest but very enjoyable day ever!!!!
Thank you to the people of Condino for their wonderful hospitality.
8
The trip to Italy : Un’esperienza magnifica !
When you are asked “how was your holiday?” or “how did the party go? “or “ how was the Interview?“
then you normally answer with one word. – usually a word like fantastic; magical; wonderful; exciting;
enjoyable; exhilarating or something similar. Not one of these words on their own are sufficient to
describe our trip to Italy. It was all these things and more.
The trip began on the morning of August 5th, with a slight hiccup when the bus was late. Not late
enough of course to dampen the spirit of anticipation and adventure buzzing through the team. The
whole trip from Brighouse to Stresa was a long one but thanks to terrific organisation and a wonderful
rapport amongst us bedtime was soon upon us.
The Hotel
The Hotel Regina Palace seemed typical of many hotels in this area – Ornate building with superb
fixtures and fittings. The Hotel was situated on the lakeside at Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Many of us had
a balcony with this wonderful view of the lake with the mountain ranges in the background. There are
people who can afford and will pay millions of pounds to own properties with a view like this.
Serve yourself breakfast was magnificent with the widest choice I have seen for some time. Evening meal
was certainly enjoyable but we English found it difficult to adjust to the Italian way of taking half an
hour between each course. Comments and encouragement made no difference, we had to settle for their
speed and their delivery, but again the attention to detail from the staff and waiters was very good.
The Town
Stresa was a gem of a place. Being on the lakeside it was rather like being on the coast with a pleasant
promenade to stroll and admire the views. The town centre, a couple of streets back from the lakeside,
was a busy little cosmopolitan mixture of restaurants, cafes and shops. It was absolutely enchanting and
we were all very comfortable making several visits to enjoy the relaxing and satisfying experience
whether just strolling around or enjoying their superb pizzas and pastas.
Free Time
With 3 concerts over the 7 days, there was a reasonable degree of free time built into this trip. Some of us
did very little other than have a few beers and stroll around Stresa. Others took a ferry to Switzerland on
one day and a coach to Milan on another. There were boat trips out into the lake and visits to the small
islands visible from the hotel. Quite a few (young ones!) partied into the night after the evening meal in
the Hotel. All in all there was this sensible balance between performing and enjoying the opportunities
offered by the venue.
Our Host
Lyndon Stacey is a Director of a Swiss based company exporting Italian style “desserts” into the UK. He
has lived and worked in Italy for the past 20 years and speaks fluent Italian. He is a former brass band
player and currently a Vice-President at Brighouse and Rastrick. (and now a Friend to C & L). - He has
many connections with Wind bands, players and Band enthusiasts in the Italian Lake district. This all
makes for an ideal CV to instigate and help organise a concert trip to Italy. Lyndon worked alongside
Jane throughout the trip, organising the concerts, the venues and the necessary publicity. He also acted
as Compere at the 3 concerts since the audiences were principally Italian. We could not have done this
trip without his knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm. He was a real star.
The 3 concert venues
Our first concert was at the other side of the lake at Ispra. Here the Lady Mayor had organised a huge
marquee on the lakeside and the turnout of local people was very good. Their enthusiasm for our music
and their joy in hearing it was obvious with every piece played. We presented the Mayor with flowers at
the end of the concert and her delight at the band’s performance reflected that of the audience.
Her reaction and response was to give the President such a public embrace that even with his experience
he has not enjoyed before.... (More please! )
9
Our second concert was at Condino, near Lake Garda, a considerable journey away. Lyndon had given
us prior notice that here we would experience the warmest welcome we could imagine. Their welcome as
we arrived and the subsequent hospitality went way beyond anything we had thought possible. Condino
hosts a wind band with some 80 members. Many of them were at their bandroom as we arrived at
lunchtime on the day of the concert. They had been busy since 6am that morning, cooking a barbecue
lunch for 50 of us and a similar number of themselves. The atmosphere in the bandroom as we all
enjoyed lunch together was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. They laid on a very enjoyable
afternoon visit to a museum – actually more of a nature walk with one of their English speaking
members.
When it came to the concert, the bandroom which doubles as a concert hall, was full to capacity,
probably near to 400 people. Again as in Ispra the delight shown by the audience in response to the
programme given by the band was ecstatic. John had arranged that we would play an additional 2 pieces
of music here.
The first was a march composed by a one of the local visiting bandmasters and he was invited to conduct
the band for his composition. He was a lovable eccentric and flamboyant personality who rose to the
occasion with added talent and humour. The final piece was what could best be described as the local
National Anthem (They do not recognise the proper Italian National Anthem in this part of Italy). For
this finale the Musical Director of the Condino band was invited to conduct. For him this must have been
the ultimate accolade. He stuck his chest out, conducted with great gusto and finished in celebration with
arms aloft to the cheering audience.
The flamboyance and deep joy shown by these two bandmasters given this unexpected opportunity to
conduct a band of the standard of Clifton and Lightcliffe was a joy to behold.
It brought real tears to my eyes and it certainly left images and memories that will remain with me
forever.
The third and final concert was organised in the ballroom of the Hotel Regina Palace. This was the
concert where we had little idea of the response we would get but we need not have worried. The room
was again full. This was an audience made up of local townspeople and visitors who would be relative
strangers to each other. Our concert programme was basically the same again and the audience showed
great enthusiasm for the music albeit slightly subdued from the previous 2 concerts. Several people came
up afterwards to say thank you (in good English) and to say how much they had enjoyed themselves.
The Band
There was only the 1 basic programme for the 3 concerts, but the audience reaction I have described tells
you that the band performed exceptionally well. The photographs we have taken, particularly those at
the concerts where the band is shown in the background, tell us that they all enjoyed themselves. There
are a lot of smiling faces to be seen. The day after we arrived home one member of the band said to me he
would go back again tomorrow if the opportunity was there. I believe that echoed the feelings of us all.
What Now ?
We have happy memories indeed of the Italians, noisy but nice you might say. I was told if you want to
“rent a crowd” just sign up 12 Italians, they are so full of noise, energy and enthusiasm. Their friendship
and hospitality was second to none, and it was contagious. Successful trips like these have the benefit of
improving friendships and understanding between members of the band. I am sure that is the case here.
A return trip at some time seems almost inevitable. I am sure Lyndon wants it, our new friends in Ispra
and Condino want it, and I really believe the majority of the band want it. We shall have to wait and see
how other things pan out.
Whatever, an absolutely memorable trip; here’s to the next one!
Brian Nicholson President Clifton and Lightcliffe Band
10
Former band member ties the knot
We were delighted to be asked by a former band
member Laurie Thraves if we would like to play
at his wedding to Dalia on Saturday 18th July at
Mobberley near Manchester. Laurie started with
our junior band on cornet when he was a pupil at
Rastrick High School, he progressed through to
the senior band where he stayed until he moved
on to Oxford University to continue his studies.
Laurie has always kept in touch with the band
and whenever he comes home to Lightcliffe he
calls in to see how we all are particularly on
Christmas morning when he dusts off his cornet
and play carols with us. They are to live in
London and we would all like to wish them both
a very happy future together.
B Band entertain the crowds in Pudsey Park
On Sunday 16th August our B Band played on a lovely sunny afternoon to an enthusiastic crowd in
Pudsey Park. This is a lovely venue and the bandstand is always decked out with plenty of flowers.
A varied programme of music was played including HMS Pinafore, a selection from Oliver, Boogey
Woogey Bugle Boy, There’s no Business Like Show Business and our Principal cornet play Panette
Harrison shown below gave a lovely rendition of Solitaire.
11
Presentation Evening
Our presentation evening was held at the Brighouse Sports Club on Saturday 27th June and was
attend by 65 members and friends.
Congratulations to those who were awarded prizes.
Most Improved player B Band - a tie between Pat Foster (Flugel) and Tracey Shaw (Baritone)
Players Player B Band - Harry Ridler (Tenor Horn)
Most Improved player Senior Band - Paul Addy. (Trombone)
Best Section Senior Band - a tie between Basses and Horns
Players Player Senior Band - Stewart Swallow (Tenor Horn)
Band person of the year—Janet Bell
We would like to thank Julie Thornton for organising a great event and next year it will be held on
14th May at the Brighouse Sports Club so make a note in your diaries.
Julie being presented with
flowers as a thank you for
organising a great night
Celebrating the Bronte’s in Thornton
The band played at St James Church Thornton on Friday 11th September to celebrate the 200th
Anniversary of the Bronte Family moving into the area. The church held a four day festival with
exhibitions of Bronte items including Christening records of the children, there was a film screening
of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, various historic talks and slide shows about the family and
finally the band entertained an appreciative audience with a proms concert which as you can see
included lots of flag waving. The band also included in their programme the Worth Valley Railway
to share the connection with Howarth where the Bronte Museum is situated.
12
C O N TAC T S
The Bandroom—Band Headquarters, Birkhouse Road, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, West Yorkshire
HD6 4EW
Musical Director—Mr John Clay 01422 201875
President—Mr Brian Nicholson 01924 490306
Secretary– Mrs Jane Clay, 260 Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe, Halifax West Yorkshire HX3 8TY
Phone 01422 201875, 07990633320, e-mail [email protected]
Patrons– Mrs Janet Bell, [email protected]
Web-Site—www.cliftonband.co.uk
CD’s for Sale
The two top are £5.00 each and include a wide selection of music,
Reflections has two CD’s and features both our bands, this is priced at
£10.00, and our newest is Live in Concert which was recorded on our
very successful tour to Italy in August is priced at£7.50 each. All CD’s
are available at our concerts or by contacting the band secretary
13
P AT R O N S
We have around 60 Patrons who support the band throughout the year, This scheme was set up in 2006
and we are very grateful for the support they have given over the years.
If you are interested in becoming a Patron we ask for a minimum payment of £20.00 per year which
entitles you to 2 tickets to our Annual concert held in the Autumn and updates of what the band is doing
throughout the year.
Please contact our Patrons administrator Mrs Janet Bell if you would like to join, all our contact details
are in the contacts section opposite.
Hello/Goodbye We are sorry to say goodbye to Harry Ridler Solo Horn with the B Band who is
now at Birmingham University. We wish him all the best with his music studies.
We also say goodbye to Heather Sowden our Solo Trombone player with the B Band. Heather is now at
Sheffield Hospital as an A & E Doctor. Also Liz Dinsdale on Euphonium with the B Band who has gone
on to Drighlington Band. We hope they will come and visit the band whenever they can.
We have a few empty chairs in our B Band if you are interested in joining us
Positions Vacant B Band
Cornets
Soprano
Kit Player
Positions Vacant Senior Band
None at present
125 CLUB
A very valuable source of income for the band over a number of years now is our weekly 125 club draw.
Numbers are 25p each per week to purchase and a £5.00 weekly draw takes place plus three times a year
a prize of £50.00 is given at Christmas, Easter and the Summer
The funds from the 125 Club over the years has provided the band with new equipment such as music,
mutes, music stands, percussion items, ties and outdoor coats.
If you would like to join please contact either Helen Woodcock or Jane Clay for more details.
Don’t forget do your Christmas Shopping on line help and raise funds for the band
14
Spotlight—This issue features our Musical Director John H. Clay B.A (Hons)
Up until the age of nine I was a real tearaway, always in some kind of trouble. Mum told me later in life
that she had despaired of me. I have to thank Lawrence Marshall who was the turning point. He lived
at the end of the road where we lived and was a member of the Brighouse & Rastrick Band. I used to sit
on his doorstep listening to him. Eventually after 12 months of asking, my dad bought me my first
cornet, I had to sell my Hornby train set for £10 to help pay for it, with dad adding another £10.
So at the age of nine I began having private lessons with John Womersley who had been a member of
Brighouse in the 30’s but was now the Deputy Bandmaster at Clifton & Lightclffe band.
After some three months John took me to Clifton where I sat in on third cornet, three months later David Horsfield joined, being the same age we hit it off and have been friends ever since. Within twelve
months Jeffrey Lord and Peter Middleton had also joined along with Barry and Robert Nield, all local
lads and I remember we had some great times with the band.
At the age of 12 I auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. But because I did not
want to play a trumpet, I wanted to stick with my cornet I was not allowed in, however, Dr Wiseman
who auditioned me wrote to Dr Denis Wright who was the founder of the National Youth Brass Band
and through this I was accepted onto the Easter course in 1956 at Wallasey. At each course the pupils
are auditioned for their place in the band and I was fortunate to be on the solo cornet bench straight
away. At 16 I became the band’s 5th principal cornet, following in the footsteps of Maurice Murphy,
Richard Evans, John Berryman and David James. All who went on to become distinguished musicians.
In August 1958 aged 14 I was successful in auditioning for 2nd cornet at Black Dyke Mills Band and
twelve months later on leaving school I was given an apprenticeship at John Foster & Son, Black Dyke
Mills, where I stayed for 35 years. During my time with the band I was fortunate to play all the cornet
positions including Principal for three months in 1962. I eventually settled on Flugel horn for the last 8
years I was with them. My most momentous moment was winning the National Brass Band Finals at
the Royal Albert Hall in 1959 at the age of 15 playing Le Roi d’Ys it was a tremendous experience that
I will always remember and this is still my favourite brass band piece.
I met Jane who has been with Clifton band since the early 1960’s, whilst returning to help out
occasionally during my 15 years with Dyke and we married in January 1973. We have one son David
who plays percussion.
In 1977 Jane and I formed a junior section with 4 youngsters from the senior band. Over the years we
have seen many young people pass through the ranks. The junior band is now our B Band and has
progressed really well. We still have a number of players in the Senior band today who started their
playing career with our Junior band.
Over the years I have taken a number of bands as conductor, one notable memory was with Honley
Band when we were awarded 2nd place at the 1990 National finals at the Royal Albert Hall in
Nottingham off a number one draw.
Being made redundant from John Foster’s in 1994 when it eventually closed, I ended my textile career
and decided to study for a music degree which I achieved at Accrington & Rossendale College
accredited by Sheffield University. This allowed me to become a supply teacher giving me a complete
change of direction.
In 2004 Musical Director Rob Collinson left Clifton and Lightcliffe and I thought that by now I had
enough knowledge to be able to take them on as Musical Director and after auditioning I was accepted.
We have been very fortunate at Clifton to retain many members who have remained loyal to the band
over many years, including an excellent back room team.
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Since taking over I am proud that both bands have progressed well. The senior band has gone from the
3rd section to being 2nd section Yorkshire Champions in 2012 off a number 1 draw, then promoted to the
1st section in 2013 for the first time in its history. The B Band has progressed from an unregistered
junior band to 4th section Yorkshire Champions in 2014 again off a number 1 draw and now promoted
to 3rd section. Prizes with Clifton during my time have included three 6 th, one 5th, one 4th, two 3rd,
three 2nd and four 1st placings.
The senior band has travelled abroad a number of times performing concerts including Austria, France,
Switzerland, California where we teamed up with the Golden State British Brass Band performing in
venues such as the famous Disney Land Park and the Richard Nixon Memorial Centre and in August
this year we travelled to Lake Maggiore in Italy playing three packed out concerts.
We have been involved in a number of Brassed Off Productions, released 4 CD’s teamed up with a
Welsh Choir, been heard on the BBC World Service, made a promotional company video and played at
a number of high profile concerts. This is only possible due to the dedication, professionalism,
team work and co-operation from all our members and long may it continue.
During my spare time what little there is I like to visit our grandchildren, read, walk, travel and go to
the theatre primarily to see a good opera production.
Picture shows John playing with the Black Dyke Band, front
left at a reunion in July 2015 at Huddersfield Town Hall
Annual Concert
On Saturday 17th October both our bands will be appearing at
the Central Methodist Church in Brighouse commencing at
7.15pm for our Annual Concert. This year we are having as our
guests ‘Encore’ who are a 12 piece singing cabaret group who
perform songs from the shows, solos, duets and comedy numbers.
Tickets are available now priced at £7.00 each from Jane Clay
or Paul Addy they are also available at the door on the evening.
Do come along and enjoy the music.
The day after our B Band is taking part in the Pogson Bray
Entertainment Contest at Berties Banqueting Rooms in Elland
and have drawn to play number one commencing at 10.30am.
There are 12 bands taking part each playing a 20 minute
programme of popular music. We wish our band the best of
luck.
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ENGAGEMENTS
SENIOR BAND
October
Saturday 17th
Annual Concert Central Methodist Church Brighouse 7.15pm
November
Sunday 8th
Saturday 14th
Saturday 28th
Mirfield Rememberance Day Parade 2.00pm
Wibsey Methodist Church 2.30pm
Cleckheaton Town Hall 7.30pm
December
Friday 4th
Saturday 5th
Saturday 12th
Tuesday 15th
Wednesday 16th
Saturday 19th
Monday 21st
St Thomas Church Greetland 7.30pm
McCarthy and Stone Shadwell 2.00—4.00pm
St Mary’s Church Wyke 7.15pm
Christmas Cracker at St John’s Church Clifton 7.15pm
Carols by Candlelight Ecumenical Church Rodley 7.00pm
Carols at Upper Hopton 6.00pm
Bradford and Bingley 1.30pm
B BAND
October
Saturday 17th
Sunday 18th
Annual Concert Central Methodist Church Brighouse 7.15pm
Pogson Bray Entertainment Contest Berties Elland
November
Sunday 8th
Mirfield Rememberance Day Parade 2.00pm
December
Friday 11th
Sunday 13th
Monday 21st
Carols for Heartbeat Brighouse 7.00pm
Wibsey Methodist Church Carol Service 4.00pm
Carols at Tesco Brighouse 10.00am