1900 - 1994

Silverwood Mine

Hollings Lane

Thrybergh

Facts, Stories and Features

MIKE LONGDEN

SILVERWOOD BANDSMAN

FOREWORD

Mike in kindly sending in his memories of his days with the band has given us a sound understanding of the respect and comradeship these band members had for each other, a respect that also extended towards the family members of the bandsmen. Further to that we have also gained information regarding the instruments each band member played.

I would like to express my gratitude to Mike for his contribution below.

Dear John,

May I add my memories of the band to your site as I have just read Margaret Marcia's (nee Baker) letter regarding her grandfather, George. I remember Margaret when she visited her grandparents in East Dene as, I, too lived in Delta Place.I was one of the young boys that Mr. Baker (I still cannot call him George) taught to play the cornet at his home in Delta Place along with my then best friend, Brian Barnett. Mr. Baker had endless patience and never rebuked me about my first stumbling efforts at the first tune I had to learn, In my Cottage. Under his guidance I later aspired to the exalted rank of third cornet and held that honour for 4 or 5 years from 1950 to 1955 approx.

The band had some of the greatest instrumentalists in the country playing for it. Dennis Bradshaw was the finest solo cornet player I have ever heard. He was a good man and he had a beautiful Scottish wife. His brother, Jim, was equally good on trombone. We also had probably the best euphonium player in Ronny Horne who in my opinion was as good as the famous Dennis Braine.

The men who played the B and E flat basses were Jock Collins and  Harold Uttley  and Ernie Hallas (who doubled as coach driver.) Reg Aspinall played tenor horn while Jack Wilkinson  and Arnold (? Sorry!) played soprano cornet. The solo cornet players were Dennis Bradshaw and Reg Rawnsley. Repiano "cornet" was Ernie Uttley who  played the flugel horn. Second cornets were John Smith, Brian Barnett and Colin Machin who's daughter, Joan, still occupies a place in my heart. Mr George Baker played the bass trombone. My second mentor was my third cornet partner Mr. Sands who has forgotten more about brass bands than I will ever know. Mr Smith, when on leave from the R.A.F. came and played the drums and we were a different band for his contribution. George Humphreys also played second cornet. Conductor, Mr. Reg Gray was a gentleman in every sense of the word and conducted the band with flair and deep knowledge. His daughter, Mary, taught at Spurley Hey school, and was a beautiful, friendly lady.

I could go on and write volumes of the life and (in my) times of Silverwood band but I will close with my apologies to the ones I have not mentioned and should have, and to the ones who can still remember a spotty faced young'un called Mick Longden I say that I remember you all with affection for contributing to my young life and giving me an abiding love for Brass band Music.

Finally I would like to mention the wives and daughters who followed the band and held "Beetle Drives" in their living rooms and made the young lads welcome in their homes. I hope these few reminiscences will inspire others to give their memories an airing and give a deeper insight to what went on in the bands life. I have lived in the far north of Scotland for 25 years but still prefer the sound of a brass band to the skirl of the bagpipes.

Best regards Mike Longden 05.10.2006 mike@fripperies.com  

© Text Mike Longden Formatting this page John Doxey

BAND PAGES ON THIS SITE

Fred Kelly

Reginald Gray

R & F Green

George Baker

Mike Longden

Brass Band

Brass Band 2

Brass Band Drawing