Wigan Album

I was once given a pile of old 78’s and one was Bickershaw Collery Band.

With a some of the bandsmen wearing straw hats or Boaters as they became to be known, it reminded me of what I've been reading In this weeks Ireland's Own about the Straw Hat Riots in New York and other areas of America in September, this time of year usually saw men change from wearing boaters to a felt hat aka felt hat day, but some had decided to carry on wearing their boaters which was objected to, and so youths began to knock them off or steal them, and this 'hat snatching' began gathering momentum among youths with spreading to other areas. Seems some of the men in the band have ditched their boaters for flat caps.

https://www.irelandsown.ie/the-straw-hat-riot-of-1922/#:~:text=The%20Straw%20Hat%20Riot%20of%201922%20%E2%80%93%20Ireland's%20Own&text=The%20Straw%20Hat%20Riot%20of%201922%20occurred%20in%20New%20York,some%20injuries%2C%20writes%20MARGARET%20SMITH.

At one time probably the best colliery band in the world. My first memory of music was punchinello , at my grandparents house in platt bridge 75 years ago. Still listen to it every day

A recording of the band from 1939 here on youtube playing Punchinello & Cavalcade Of Martial Songs.
https://youtu.be/cJ81awiXHX8?si=iJFtP0xmaRjSqE1b

I just love the sound of a brass band !