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Desperate days for band

21/ 5/2008

A SADDLEWORTH band that spawned Britain’s youngest-ever winner of ‘BBC Young Musician of the Year’ could be axed.

The historic Dobcross Silver Band is under threat because it cannot recruit new members.

The crisis comes as the 133-year-old band should be celebrating the success of former member Peter Moore – a 12-year-old trombonist – who has wowed top judges to win the prestigious BBC title.

The outfit has 16 members aged nine to 50, but desperately needs about 10 more. Three current members are due to leave soon and will also need to be replaced.

The band believes the appeal of other activities for children, affluent lifestyles, and longer working hours have left people of all ages unwilling to commit to two rehearsals a week. The Oldham band is having to borrow players just to keep performing.

The sad decline in recent months has seen the Dobcross Silver Band drop from the highest Championship Section – featuring the best and most famous brass bands in the country – to the Third Section, which is the fourth highest level.

President John Holden said: "I just pray we can continue. We have advertised for members and had a few inquiries and are hopeful we will get a few regulars. We welcome anyone to come to Dobcross, which is a lovely area. We just hope we can continue in the way we have done for the last 133 years because it is a name steeped in brass band history. The problem is that a lot of people aren’t aware of the position the band is in. We were in the Championship Section last year but we requested that the band be re-graded because the standard of players did not warrant us being in it. The future of the band is under threat, which is why we are appealing for people to come and join us. I remember a musical director commenting that you can’t do anything with an empty chair."

Conductor and musical director Dennis Hadfield remains hopeful: "We went through a bad time about 18 months ago when we lost 10 players and we kept going. The people in the band are committed. Anyone can come along and have go."

The Dobcross Silver Band dates back to 1875. In 1935 it celebrated its greatest victory, being crowned Champion of Champions at the Belle Vue contest Golden Jubilee.

The band lost many members during the Second World War and the late Roy Castle interviewed and played with the band for a TV documentary at a time when it was regarded as one of the most famous bands in the world.

Anyone interested in joining should ring 01457 873741.