The Famous Creswell Colliery Brass Band

Creswell Band is very much alive and kicking. We are a 4th section band with big plans and determination to go forward and enjoy contesting and most of all entertaining the public.

Below is a picture of the band taken April 2007.

Below is a picture of the band taken at Ripley Park in 2006.

The band was formed in 1899 under the name of Creswell Colliery and District Band. Rehearsals were held in the colliery office until the Miners Welfare building was built in Model Village in 1908.From then on the band went from strength to strength winning competitions both nationally and internationally. In 1901 the band came 2nd in the Worksop Band Competition.

This was the first of many competition successes including winning the 1925 British Open Championship competition in Manchester and becoming world champions of the Trombone Quartet competition in 1945.

The band has also made several records and has performed on Television and radio hundreds of times.

The band has also played in front of Royalty many times including King Edward VII, King George V and the present Queen.

This is the British Open Championship Trophy. Held by Creswell band in 1925 when it won the competition playing 'Macbeth' - Keighley.

The adjudicators on the day were Dr T Keighley, George Nichols & W Halstead.

This photograph of the band was taken in 1926 the year after the band won the British Open Championships.

Do you know anyone on this picture ? send us an email if you do.

The band won the Briticsh Open contest in 1925 under the direction of Mr J A Greenwood. Below is a photograph of Mr Greenwood. The picture on the right is a picture of the front cover of a very famous Trombone solo writen by J A Greenwood.

William Halliwell was another famous conductor of the Creswell Colliery Band. William was a giant of the Brass Band world with a considerable string of contest successes to his credit. He was conductor of the National Champion Band nine times between 1910 and 1928. Mr Halliwell is pictured below.

In 1946 the Trombone section of the band won the Quatet Championship of Great Britain. They also went on to win the World Quatet Champion ship.

Bass Trombone - Maurice W Teasdale - Left of picture

Tenor - Bernard Bramley

Tenor - Harold Pattison

Tenor & Solo - Tommy Oughton

The Conductor was Harold Moss

These pictures were taken of the band around 1925. The uniform is the same as the 1926 picture and some of the players are the same.

We are not sure when this picture was taken but again there are some members from the 1926 band. The uniform has now changed. If anyone can give some information on players names, old band recordings, memorable occasions we would love to know. We would like to thank Mr Holmes of Creswell for sending us these pictures.

The picture below gives the names of the bandsmen at the time. There are some well known faces.

Bob Sangwell has kindly sent us a photograph of his Granfather, Jimmy Sangwell. Jimmy was the band's official private driver before the war.

1899 - Band formed

1901 - 2nd in Worksop Band Competition

1924 - 2nd in British Open Championships

1925 - British Open Champions

1926 - 1st in Blackpool Contest

           1st in North of England Championships

1933 - 3rd National Championships ( Prometheus Unbound )

1935 - 2nd in Crystal Palace Championships

1935 - 2nd National Championships ( Pride of Race )

1937 - 2nd in Skegness Band Competition

1940 - 2nd in British Open Championships

1942 - 3rd in  British Open Championships

1943 - 4th in  British Open Championships

1944 - 3rd in  British Open Championships

           4th in  Trombone Quartet World Championships

1945 - 2nd in  British Open Championships

           World Trombone Quartet Champions

1946 - 5th in British Open Championships

           3rd in Trombone Quartet World Championships

           2nd in Midlands Championships

1947 - 3rd in British Open Championships

           2nd in Midlands Championships

1948 - 4th in British Open Championships

           3rd in Midlands Championships

1949 - 4th in Midlands Championships

1953 - 3rd National Championships ( Diadem of Gold )

1992 - Creswell Colliery closes

1993 - Creswell Colliery Welfare closes

2005 - 9th place - 4th Section - Butlins Contest

2006 - 8th place - 4th Section - Midlands Area Contest

2007 - 9th place - 4th Section - Butlins Contest

2007 - 7th place - 4th Section - NEMBBA Rolls Royce, Derby

2007 - 15th place - 4th Section - Midlands Area Contest

The band played down Creswell Colliery in the early seventies.

Band Members

Mervyn Griffiths ( Band Master ), W. Hicks ( Drum Major ), Gordon Shorthouse,

Michael Wheatley, David Hilditch, Eric Ottowell, Jim Hichcock, Lloyd Ridgeway, Lou Moulsdale,

Terry Holling, Julie Holling, John Edwards, Roy Flinders, Charles Ratcliffe, Fred Lowery,

Peter Fisher, Richard Hicks, Harold Hill, Stuart Fletcher ( Still with the band today ), Frank Bee

Terry Ram, Ken Vernon, Jim Bradshaw, Clive Wilshere, Terry Harries.

Clowne Salvation Army Band

Clowne Silver Prize Band 1905

Shireoaks Band 1912

Staveley Works Band 1945

Whitwell Band - Date unknown

1921

1925