10th Anniversary CD

The veterans band are proud to announce the release of their 10th anniversary CD - "Celebrating - 10 years on".

The CD features 11 tracks ranging from classic brass band tunes like "Fantasy on British Sea Songs", to more modern arrangements such as "Highland Cathedral".

There is a solo from the band's principle cornet, David Pogson, who plays Dvorak's "Rusalka's Song to the Moon", while the trombone section, Richard Milton, Tom Hobson, Stuart Russell and John Horsefield, feature in the light hearted tune "Dem Bones".

The final track on the CD is the specially commissioned "Whitworth Veterans March", an arrangement by our 10th anniversary Musical Director, Dr Roy Newsome, which features the March "old Comrades" and the hymn tune "Simeon".

At 5 pounds (plus P&P if required) this is a bargain! Please contact Gerald Varley on gerald@sgvarley.co.uk or telephone 01706 853072 for details of how to order your copy.

Whitworth Veterans Band

The band was formed in 2000 after a number of previously successful re-unions. The players in the band are a mixture of older bandsmen, some who played with Whitworth Vale & Healey Band, and some that are welcome additions who swell our ranks. The band goes from strength to strength and is now a quite formidable team of musicians. The band is larger than the standard brass band and is made up of thirty seven players. Quite recently the band returned to Healey hall to play once again in the ballroom of this recently resorted building. The Healey Hall Band amalgamated  with Whitworth Band in the 1880's and this was the first time for over a century that the band had been back to play once again in this lovely building. All the photographs are of the band at Healey Hall on Sunday 1st February 2004

The band meets only once a month between September and March and hold an annual concert in February. The weeks up to the concert see the band rehearsing on a more regular basis. The concerts are so popular that tickets are sold out within minutes of going on sale. Advanced booking is pretty well essential.

The band raises money to support the senior and youth bands. Indeed the youth band always plays a short programme of music at the commencement of the annual concert in February. Finance has been made available to the senior band and instruments have been purchased for the youth band. New concert stands have been purchased for the use of all three bands.

As with all the bands, rehearsals are held at the band club and are almost always the first Sunday of each month September through to February.

A new conductor is engaged each season. Mr John Binns is the resident for 2011-2012 season.

Musical Directors

Tony Briggs 2001

Steve Lord 2002

David Morris 2003

Les Beavers 2004

Kevin Wadsworth 2005

Roy Curran 2006

Roy Newsome 2007

Geoff Whitham 2008

Malcolm Brownbill 2009

Roy Newsome 2010

Alan Lawton 2011

John Binns 2012