Wingates Band
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2024) |
Wingates Band is a
History
Wingates Band was formed in 1873 by members of the local
The band was originally formed as the Wingates Temperance Band, and has also been the Bass Wingates Band, British Aerospace Wingates Band, Wingate's Temperance, and Wingates Temperance (Westhoughton).[3] Early in the 20th century Wingates rose to become a member of the elite of brass bands. In 1906 it achieved the "double" by winning the British Open brass band championships and the British National championships. The following year, in 1907, the band repeated its success and retained both titles, completing the first "double double" in the British banding world. The feat was not matched for over 70 years. In total Wingates has won the 'Open' seven times and the 'National' on four occasions. The band won the French Open brass band championship in 2004 and 2006.[citation needed]
In May 2008
Pretoria Pit Disaster
The Pretoria Pit disaster was a mining accident on 21 December 1910, when an underground explosion occurred at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit, known as the Pretoria Pit, in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, then in the historic county of Lancashire, in North West England. A total of 344 men lost their lives, including cornet players, trombone players and horn players from Wingates Band.
At 7:50 am, there was an explosion in the Plodder Mine, which was thought to have been caused by an accumulation of gas from a roof collapse the previous day.
That day 349 workers descended the No 3 bank pit shaft to work in the Plodder, Yard and Three-Quarters mines. Of those, only four survived to be brought to the surface. One died immediately and one the next day. The two survivors were Joseph Staveley and William Davenport. In addition one man died in the Arley Mine of No. 4 Pit, bringing the total to 344. There was a final fatality that day, William Turton, who died while fighting a fire in No. 3 pit. The men who were working the other mines in the pit worked from No.4 shaft were unharmed.
William Rimmer
It was in 1891 that the band signed its first professional conductor, Mr William Rimmer from Southport. Mr Rimmer was one of the all-time 'giants' of the British band movement. By the turn of the century he had transformed Wingates into an outfit amongst the finest in the land. In 1906 the band achieved the 'double' of British Open and British national Champions. This was repeated in 1907, a feat known as the 'double double' which has only once been emulated since then in the 1970s by the world famous Black Dyke Mills Band.
Roll of Honour
Contest | Place | Year |
---|---|---|
National Championships of Great Britain | 1st | (1906) (1907) (1931) (1971) |
2nd | (1904) (1905) | |
3rd | (1900) (1908) (1911) (1921) (1926) (1932) (1976) | |
British Open | 1st | (1906) (1907) (1918) (1921) (1923) (1939) (1975) |
2nd | (1914) (1919) (1920) (1926) (1929) (1935) (1947) (1961) (1968) (1985) | |
3rd | (1903) (1930) (1934) (1967) | |
North West Area Championships | 1st | (1945) (1971) (1974) (1977) (1995) |
2nd | (1960) (1963) (1966) (1970) (1976) (1979) (2016) | |
3rd | (1947) (1952) (1957) (1959) (1968) (1989) (1994) (2004) (2007) (2015) | |
French Open | 1st | (2004) (2006) |
2nd | (2007) | |
3rd | N/A |
Albums
Somewhat surprisingly, given the prevailing constraints of the time, the first-ever Wingates
Wingates is an active performing band and also has a long recording history. The recent recording
Album | Year | Conductor | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Marching into the Millennium | (2000) | Alan Lawton | |
Milestones | (2001) | Alan Lawton | |
The Wonderful World of Wingates | (2003) | Roy Curran & Alan Lawton | |
Nyman Brass
|
(2006) | Andrew Berryman | Composed and produced by Michael Nyman |
Sounding Voices, Sounding Brass | (2006) | Russell Paterson & Andrew Berryman | |
Asway in A Manger | (2006) | Andrew Berryman | |
Frolic For Trombones | (2006) | Andrew Berryman & John Dickinson | Featuring: Halle Trombone section... & Tuba |
EXTREMES | (2009) | Andrew Berryman | |
Perspectives of Pretoria | (2010) | David Thornton | In memory of the Pretoria Pit disaster |
From Fifes to Fanfares & Fame! | (2013) | Paul Andrews | 140th Anniversary |
Sounds of a Century | (2015) | Paul Andrews | 100th Anniversary of recording |
References
- ^ a b Wilson, Chloe (24 September 2023). "Bolton brass band celebrates 150th birthday with concert and exhibition". The Bolton News. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Wingates Band". Brass Bands England. 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Wingates Band". www.brassbandresults.co.uk. Brass Band Results. Retrieved 9 February 2024.