Tameside’s ‘Wet’ Friday sums up brass band spirit

IT MAY have started as more like Wet Friday but not even the good old British weather could dampen the spirits.

A market ground full of parishioners and school children soaked up – more literally than many wanted – the atmosphere as Mossley’s Whit Walks became a great success.

Although, asking them to join in a rendition of All Things Bright and Beautiful when one look up told a very different story may have been a tad ambitious.

More bands involved, including for the first time in a long time the one from the town’s high school, set the beat as pride was shown.

Not everyone was willing to enter the spirit, as one driver showed as they attempted to get past stewards until police officers went over and told them in no uncertain terms.

However, feelings were calmed and the parade set the tone for, thankfully, much drier band contests.

MPs Jonathan Reynolds – who brave the earlier rain along with new Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr Betty Affleck – and Angela Rayner got involved by leading performers into the area at Stalybridge, which The Correspondent understands may be joined by a second in the town.

The former also showed his support for the newly formed competition in Hyde, which proved a hit.

People in Heyrod took inspiration from then Tour de France with artwork adorning the road which bands marched along before performing.

And at Mossley AFC, large crowds looked on as bands from across Europe and even Australia competed against the more familiar names in the brass band world – Canning Brass even won the deportment section at Mossley.

In all, 2024’s Whit Friday can go down as another success as spirit conquered the elements once again.

TAMESIDE’S WHIT FRIDAY BRASS BAND CONTEST RESULTS

 

Area Open Champion: Foden’s

Second: Rothwell Temperance

Third: Leyland

Youth: Macclesfield Youth
Runner-up: Mossley Hollins High School

First Section: Northop Silver
Second Section: Skelmersdale Prize
Third Section: Hawk Green
Fourth Section: Stalybridge Old Band

Broadoak – 32 bands

 

Foden’s

Rothwell Temperance

Leyland

 

Best First Section Band: Blackburn and Darwen
Best Second Section Band: Sklemersdale
Best Third Section Band: Hawk Green
Best Fourth Section Band: Stalybridge Old Band

Best Local Band: Ashton-under-Lyne

Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth

Deportment: Stacksteads
Youth Deportment: Macclesfield Youth
First Band: Foden’s

Carrbrook – 33 bands

 

Foden’s

Aldbourne

Longridge

 

Best First Section Band: Silk Brass
Best Second Section Band: Marple
Best Third Section Band: Rivington and Adlington
Best Fourth Section Band: Stalybridge Old Band

Best Local Band: Ashton-under-Lyne

Best Youth Band: Mossley Hollins High School

Deportment: Skelmersdale
Youth Deportment: Macclesfield Youth

First Band: Mossley Hollins High School
Stewards Prize: HD9 Community Youth

Denton – 33 bands

 

Leyland

Foden’s

Rothwell Temperance

 

Best First Section: Tyldesley

Best Second Section: Glossop Old Band

Best Third Section: Rivington and Adlington

Best Fourth Section: St John’s (Mossley)

Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth

Best Local Band: Ashton-under-Lyne

Deportment: Rothwell Temperance
Best Cornet Player: Longridge
Best Trombone Section: Leyland
Best Youth Cornet Player: Macclesfield Youth
Best Fourth Section Basses: St John’s (Mossley)

Droylsden – 26 bands

 

Foden’s

Rothwell Temperance

Aldbourne

 

Best First Section Band: Northop Silver
Best Second Section: Skelmersdale Prize
Best Third Section: Darwen Brass
Best Fourth Section: Arnfield Brass

Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth

Stewards Choice: St John’s (Mossley)

First Band: Foden’s

Dukinfield Tame Valley – 30 bands

 

Foden’s

Rothwell Temperance

Northop Silver

 

Best First Section Band: Blackburn and Darwen
Best Second Section Band: Besses Boys
Best Third Section Band: Darwen Brass
Best Fourth Section Band: Stalybridge Old Band

Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth

Best Local Band: Mossley

Heyrod – 34 bands

 

Foden’s

Aldbourne

Leyland

 

Best First Section Band: Silk Brass
Best Second Section Band: Marple Concert Brass
Best Third Section Band: Rivington & Adlington
Best Fourth Section Band: St John’s (Mossley)

Best Youth Band: HD9 Community Youth Band

People’s Choice: Chav Brass
Best Scratch Band: Chav Brass
Best Local Band: Ashton-under-Lyne

Deportment: Blackburn & Darwen
Youth Deportment: Mossley Hollins High School

First Youth Band to play: HD9 Community Youth Band
First Band: Bangor University

Best Cornet: Aldbourne

Hurst Village – 32 bands

 

Foden’s

Rothwell Temperance

Aldbourne

 

Best First Section Band: Mossley
Best Second Section Band: Glossop Old
Best Third Section Band: Hawk Green
Best Fourth Section Band: Stockport Silver

Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth

Best Local Band: Mossley

First Band: Foden’s
Last Band: Hawk Green

Hyde Central – 21 bands

 

Rothwell Temperance
Foden’s
Aldbourne

Best First Section Band: Mossley

Best Second Section Band: Glossop Old

Best Third Section: Rivington & Adlington

Best Fourth Section Band: Stalybridge Old Band

Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth

Best Local Band: Mossley

Best Deportment: Foden’s
Youth Deportment: Macclesfield Youth

First Band: City of Birmingham

Mossley – 40 bands

 

Foden’s

Leyland

Black Dyke

 

Best First Section Band: Tyldesley
Best Second Section Band: Skelmersdale Prize
Best Third Section Band: Eccleston
Best Fourth Section Band: St John’s (Mossley)

Best Youth Band: Mossley Hollins High School

Best Local Band: Ashton-under-Lyne
Runner-up: Stalybridge Old Band

Deportment: City of Canning

Stalybridge – 32 bands

 

Foden’s

Leyland

Aldbourne

 

Best First Section Band: Tyldesley
Best Second Section Band: Old Hall Brass
Best Third Section Band: Rivington and Adlington
Best Fourth Section Band: Stalybridge Old Band

Best Local Band: Ashton-under-Lyne

Best Youth Band: HD9 Community Youth

First Band: Elland Silver