Brass in a class of its own
England's green and pleasant land came alive with the sound of music as one of the country's biggest band festivals rolled back into town.
The streets of Saddleworth, Delph and dozens of other venues scattered across moorland on the western edge of the Pennines echoed to big band sounds at the annual Whit Friday Brass Contest.
Thousands of people packed into the streets – young and old, tourists and well-travelled brass band enthusiasts – to watch more than 100 brass bands take part in a contest once described as the "greatest free show on Earth".
This tiny part of the world, more used to quiet village life, comes alive once a year for the annual event, which even featured in popular Brit flick Brassed Off.
And among those hitting the right notes on the day were Coppull and Standish Brass Band, who took part in four of the competitions.
In each contest, bands compete against each other regardless of standing, with adjudicators scoring performances "blind".
That means "fourth section" bands such as Coppull and Standish can find themselves up against championship bands.
Coppull and Standish racked up their highest place finish at Friezland, coming in fifth out of 48, where they also picked up the best fourth section band prize.
They finished 20th in Delph out of 78, a field which included many championship bands, 14th out of 43 in Grotton – where they were second in the third/fourth section – and 44th out of 70 in Scouthead.
Secretary Teresa Trumble said: "We are up against all the championship bands so to finish 20th at Delph is like winning the cup for us."
The Saddleworth and District Whit Friday Brass Band Contests take place every year on the afternoon and evening of Whit Friday.
Next year it falls on June 5. The earliest recorded contest was in 1884, and since then the event has grown massively in popularity.
All the contests are held in the open-air, and in the weeks leading up to Whit Friday villagers insist it is not unusual to hear the sounds of rehearsals echoing across the hillsides from the various band rooms and village halls.
In each contest, bands play two pieces (marches), one on the march and then their well-rehearsed show-piece on the rostrum. The total prize fund this year was 32,995.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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