The approach of Christmas brings back so many happy memories of being a member of 'the band'. Greenway Moor brass band was formed in the 1800's then named Biddulph Moor Prize Band.The first band practice I attended as a very small child, not yet playing, was held in the New Inn, now the Foxhound in Hot Lane Biddulph Moor. Later the band rehearsed in Bill Booth's funeral parlour, temporarily, before moving to the" Welfare" building in New Street, which became a Sunday School for the Primitive Chapel close by. We rehearsed there twice a week. I believe the band disbanded in the early 1990's.

In the 1900's the band entered local contests:

2/8/1911 Bakewell Contest playing 'Land of the Shamrock' conductor unknown

15/4/1911 Birmingham Contest playing 'Land of the Shamrock' playing 'Land of the Shamrock' conductor Richard Bailey. He was, I believe, a distant relative of mine

19/7/1913 Hanley Contest playing 'Bohemian Girl' conductor Tom Eastwood

10/5/1913 Hanley Contest playing 'Bright sons of Melody' conductor Tom Eastwood

11/7/1914 Belle Vue contest playing 'Dei Vestalin' conductor Richard Bailey

5/9/31 Gatley contest playing 'Bright sons of Melody' conductor Harry Mortimer

8/8/1931Bagnall Show contest playing 'The Golden Age' conductor unknown

On the 9/9/1931 the band changed it's name to Greenway Moor after winning the Gatley Contest

Always a self funded band, we attended many functions, parades, marches, carnivals and concerts in local parks and community buildings. One of my favourite engagements was playing Christmas carols around the village of Biddulph Moor. One Christmas,I took my fifteen day old daughter along in her pram. That Christmas there had been ice and snow. Unfortunately, a few instruments froze up. A quick call to one house and a flush of hot water solved the problem.

Our "heydays" were in the 1950's and 60's when we began contesting. We rose from 3rd Section to 1st section, not a small achievement for a self funding village band, comprising mostly of local players. We travelled around many parts of the country attending these contests. As the only girl, I was honoured to become principal cornet player. We collected many trophies, shields and medals and had a few adventures, one being the trip to London for the National finals. We made the journey in Bill Hall's bus, which he also used to deliver coal. However, a bit of coal in the boot or moss on the racks, never did anyone any harm! Bill was very reluctant to drive down the newly built M1 but under the guidance of my Dad, Jack Fletcher we joined it, eventually. We arrived in London looking a bit shabby next to the luxury coaches used by the famous bands. Looking back, we were a great team with fantastic mutual appreciation and support.

Our band made a few visits to Brown Edge to help out Brown Edge band in their parade through the village and at the annual fete, which was then held in a field near the Church. We were led by the lovely gentleman Arthur Sherratt and conducted by my Dad.

I mentioned marching. This is quite a difficult technique to master. Your instrument is bound to wobble as you march along. You also have to keep strict time with the beat of the drum. The drum is your conductor when marching, I think it was two sets of three strokes to start and two sets of two to stop. You can imagine the accidents which could happen, and did! It's easy to bump into the band member in front and that's the reason why trombone players always led our band on the march!

To finish, I would just like to mention some people who were the backbone of our band. My Dad, Jack Fletcher, being the first. The Fletcher family came from Buxton to work in mines in Biddulph. Dad, his four brothers all became members of Greenway Band. They travelled from Buxton to Biddulph Moor, with very few possessions, using a handcart. Clearly, there were no removal vans in those days, nor much furniture. They took up residence in Ridgefields Biddulph Moor. Dad taught many players in our band, some of whom went on to play with bands such as Foden's. The young learners, usually about six or seven, practised in our kitchen, much to the chagrin of my Mother,who put up with the 'noise' each Wednesday after tea. He also created a Junior Band. Dad was also our conductor, except for contests, when we employed Ted Gray of Foden's band. Dad was secretary and arranger of all our engagements. We also owe much to the entrepreneur among us, Norman Machin, who instigated the making of the record , Greenway Moor Band, to celebrate our many victories in contests. Norman was also a wonderful trombone player. I must also mention my cousin Ian Beech , a fine tenor horn player, who helped me with my research into the band.

Christmas is the time to be nostalgic and to think back to past times. I often wish that I could relive those times in the 60's, when life and pleasures were very much more relaxed, enjoyable and simpler.

Prize winners

Darwin 1950-60-62-63-64

Leicester

Daily Herald National brass band area contest 1958-60-62-64

National brass Band Finals:

London1958-60-62-64

Duckinfield 1962-63

Mossley 1962-64

Huddersfield 1962

New Mills-1964

Buxton 1965

People Area Championship 2nd Section1968

National Spring Festival Belle Vue- Grand Shield 1968 First Section

Buxton Brass Band Festival 2nd Section Champions 1968

Buxton Brass Band Festival Premier Section--1969

Anne's Photograph Collection

Ben Fletcher, Jack Fletcher, Frank Fletcher, Harry Fletcher, Arthur Bailey, Joe Turner, Fred Machin

Taken in the late 1920's or 1930's.

Joe Turner, Norman Machin, Fred Machin, Graham Fletcher, Arthur Bailey, Frank Machin, Harry Fletcher, Tommy Nixon, Jonty Shufflebotham, Tom Bailey? Jack Fletcher, Anne Fletcher, Tommy Fletcher, Paul Beech, ? Beech.

Taken in the late 1940's early 1950's

Jack Fletcher conducting, Ellis Shufflebotham, Idwal Leese, Anne Fletcher, Howard Pass, Ian Beech.

Taken in 1953/54.

Anne Fletcher, Idwal Leese, Ian Beech, Reg Beswick, Alec Reid, Ellis Shufflebottom, Frank Beech, Glyn Stanway, Jonty Shufflebottom, Ken Pointon, Bill Skelton, Frank Fletcher, Roger Bailey, Fred Machin, John Lovatt, Tommy Fletcher, Roger Goodwin, Jack Fletcher, Jimmy?, Arthur Bailey, ? Beech,? Beech, Alan Turner.

Taken in 1953/54

Jack Fletcher, Harry Fletcher, Anne Fletcher, Tommy Fletcher

Taken in 1958

Fred Machin, Graham Bradbury, Alec Reid, Bob Beech?, Arthur Hingley, Jack Hodgkinson, Roger Goodwin, Ken Pointon, Tom Fletcher, Tom Dawson , Michael Bailey,

Arthur Bailey, Anne Fletcher, Ian Beech, Stan Jukes, Winston Leese, Glyn Stanway, Tommy Nixon, Ellis Shufflebottom, John Lovatt, Harry Fletcher, Jack Fletcher

Taken in 1958.