Washington colliery band will be heard once again

Jul 5 2008 by Liz Hands, The Journal

AFTER 10 years a village is no longer brassed off over the loss of its band. Tomorrow sees the first public performance of Washington Band , which will revive a century of tradition.

The first village brass band in Washington was a temperance band, and this became the Washington F Pit Band, and then Washington Welfare Band, which was led by Tyneside danceband leader George Rowell.

The band competed in championship finals in London and Blackpool and won the trophy at the Bedlington Miners’ Picnic in Northumberland eight years in a row.

But the band folded in 1998.

Earlier this year, villagers Len Wilson, and Ray and Lenny Middleton decided to try to reform the band and six people turned up to the first meeting.

Now numbers have swelled to 18, with a mix of experienced and learner players.

The band’s first outing tomorrow will be at a family activity day in the grounds of the National Trust’s Washington Old Hall, at 2pm and 3pm.

“It will be a proud moment,” said Brian Wright, who lives in Hetton and joined the Washington Welfare Band in the early 1970s, having played since 1957.

Brian is now musical director of the new band, and also conducts Trimdon Band in County Durham and plays baritone horn in Ashington Colliery Band in Northumberland.

The battle to revive the band partly mirrors the plot of the 1996 movie Brassed Off, whose characters fight to keep Grimley pit’s brass band going in the face of mine closures.

For tomorrow’s event, organised by the Friends of Washington Old Hall, the band has kitted itself out in special red ties bearing the Washington coat of arms.

Today the Friends are running a Good Food fair in the hall grounds, with 36 stalls highlighting local food producers and suppliers.

The Friends have also been running a heritage activities programme after winning an award from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A nature trail has been opened in the hall grounds, taking in the Jacobean garden and nuttery, and a series of five lectures will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Washington village all starting at 7pm.

They are July 14: Frederick Hill, the villager who saved Washington Old Hall; July 28, the tenement history of the old hall; August 11, the church magazine in the time of the rectors Molesworth and Lomax; September 1, a talk on Hugh Lee Pattinson , who founded Washington chemical works; September 15, heraldry in Holy Trinity Church.

Musicians shine

BRASS musicians will be performing on street corners throughout Durham this weekend.

The event is being held to kick off Brass, billed as "the most diverse music festival in the world".

The band line-up includes Les Vilians Chicot Bassa Bassa, 10th Avenue Street Band, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band and Skavolution.

There will be performances at Palace Green, Market Place, Durham Town Hall, Elvet Bridge and Millennium Square.

Festival opens

WORLD class musicians are descending on Northumberland for the 15th Brinkburn Music Festival.

The event offers a blend of contemporary and traditional classical music, based in the twelfth century Brinkburn Priory, both this weekend and next.

The festival got under way last night with a performance from critically-acclaimed pianist, Joanna MacGregor.

It continues with BBC Young Musician of the Year 2004, Nicola Benedetti, tonight at 7.30pm.

Sunday's line up features internationally-renowned talent, Pieter Wispelwey, at 11am, and the Gabrieli Consort and Players collaborating with award-winning North East ensemble, Tees Valley Youth Choir, from 4.30pm.

The Cardinall's Musick open the second weekend on Friday, July 11 at 7.30pm. The music continues on Saturday, July 12, from 4pm, with BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Daniela Lehner and Pavel Haas Quartet.

The Festival culminates on Sunday, July 13 with further performances by the Gabrieli Consort at noon and 3pm, the latter also featuring the Players.

Champagne and Pimms will be available in a marquee and Made in Northumberland will serve home grown food. Alternatively people can pre-book to bring their own picnic.

To find out more about the festival visit www.brinkburnmusic.org or phone (0191) 265-7777. Tickets are available by calling the Maltings Theatre box office on (01289) 330 99.