Wigan Album
Bickershaw Colliery
10 Comments
Photo: Keith
Item #: 25675
The second reason is that "Paul" requested, on its first posting at, http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/album/photo.php?opt=5&id=14254&gallery=Bickershaw+Colliery&offset=20
if anyone could name the people on this photo, I'm pleased to say I can now do that.
I've also added to that original posting an anecdote about E Rowland Jones who was that best man. Here is the list of names
Back Row:
(left to right): Clifton Jones; W (Bill) Clegg; A. Coultas; Joseph (Joe). Nightingale; Jack Mawdesley; Robert (Bob) Clarke; Edward (Ted) Farrington; Harry Gray; W. Horrabin; Ted Gray (Snr)
Middle Row:
Herbert (Bert) Healy; Peter Gill; Harry Pollard; H. Pownall;
J. Gregory; Vince Preston; W (Bill) Gill; Charlie Hulse; J. Mather; E. Nesbitt
Seated:
A. Hicks; Jack Wilson; Walter Wilding; Fred Fogarty; William Haydock; Lt Col Ernest Hart MC; H. Jackson; E. Rowland Jones; William (Bill) Gregory and W. Dawber
Now there's X Factor finalists if I ever saw them!
A fine body of musicians'. Exceptionally smart.
The Abram/Bickershaw Colliery Band were rarely out of the prizes at the 'Nationals' - from 1940 to 1946 they finished first three times, second once, third twice and fourth once. Rowland Jones, apart from being a very fine Euphonium player, went on, to become the leading tenor in the Sadler Wells Company and featured many times on the Radio. Regularly appearing on such popular shows as Vic Oliver’s “Variety Playhouse” - a show only those of a certain age will remember.
Not a bandswoman in sight!
Extract from:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_band
"A brass band in the British tradition with a full complement of 28 players (including percussion) consists of:
1 Soprano cornet in E
8-10 Cornets in B (in separate parts for 'Solo', 'Repiano', 2nd and 3rd cornets; there are 4/5 players on the 'Solo' part, one 'Repiano', two 2nd, and two 3rd)
1 Flugelhorn in B (notated on the same part as the 'Repiano' in some older music)
3 Horns in E (called Solo, 1st and 2nd)
2 Baritone horns in B (Each with separate parts)
2 Tenor trombones (notated in B playing separate parts)
1 Bass trombone (the only brass instrument in the band notated in Concert Pitch (C) on Bass Clef)
2 Euphoniums in B (Usually playing the same part with divisi sections)
4 Tubas (2 in E and 2 in B, both notated in Treble Clef; often called Basses)
2 or 3 percussion players (with 2 or more timpani, glockenspiel, snare drum, triangle, cymbals, a drum kit and more)"
Bill Clegg was my grandad. Any info gratefully received
I met Alf Coultas when I started work at BC aged 16 and we worked together till he retired. Many years later I told my about him and his band. When I retired I took up the Cornet and always think of Alf. A lovely man and so proud of the band
I met Alf Coultas when I started work at BC aged 16 and we worked together till he retired. Many years later I told my about him and his band. When I retired I took up the Cornet and always think of Alf. A lovely man and so proud of the band
I met Alf Coultas when I started work at BC aged 16 and we worked together till he retired. Many years later I told my about him and his band. When I retired I took up the Cornet and always think of Alf. A lovely man and so proud of the band
I met Clifton Jones when I was a little lad. He conducted Tweedale and Smalley band in Rochdale in the 50's. My dad played soprano. I have Cliffs "solo" book packed with many famous cornet solos. He must have been a great player.
If you have any information on him I would like to hear from you.
Many thanks.
Mike.
Clifton Jones was my Grandad. Not only was he a great player, he was the loveliest man you could wish to meet.
I had old vinyl records of his, but when I inherited them from my Dad, Clifton’s elder son Derek, they had dried out. I would love to get new recordings somehow, if possible.
I also met Harry Mortimer several times, a great friend of my Grandad’s. A sweet man.