The wonderfully named Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills Band, under the baton of Russell Gray, won a highly entertaining Bolsover Brass Festival Charity Reunion Contest in Shirebrook on the weekend.

Following its inception in 2011, the relaxed entertainment event has become a welcome addition to the contest calendar, and this year was no exception with the former Thornton’s Brass snatching victory from reigning champion Ransome.

Warm praise

A large and enthusiastic audience sat back at the Kissingate Leisure Centre to enjoy the programmes provided by four competing bands, with playing that also drew warm praise from adjudicators Philip Sparke and Alan Wycherley.

The chance to lock contesting horns was mixed with the rekindling of old friendships and acquaintances with a sense of musical nostalgia high on the agenda in the choice of programming.

Both City of Coventry and Desford Colliery re-union bands reflected the lasting influences Stephen Shimwell and James Watson had on their wonderful histories, with much of the playing touched with heartfelt poignancy.

Stylish winners

The winners secured their triumph with a stylishly delivered, diverse programme that opened in toe tapping fashion with ‘Joy, Peace and Happiness’, followed by a sparkling account of Paul Drury’s quick march ‘Jubilee’.

Solo euphonium Ian McCormick gave David Childs a run for his money with ‘Hot Canary’, prefacing a change of mood with Alan Fernie’s ‘Winter’, played in tribute to Goff Richards.

Witty Lear

A witty journey through ‘Mr Lear’s Carnival’ gave each section of the band a chance to shine, before a no holds barred finale of the ‘Coronation Scene’ from ‘Boris Godunov’ brought their colourful and prophetically victorious set to a rousing conclusion.

Originally formed by Stephen Shimwell as Thorntons Brass, the name under which it last performed at a contest in 2003, Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills Band has raised an impressive £60,000 of charitable donations since its resurrection as a non-contesting ensemble in 2007.

Unique band

Talking to 4BR, MD Russell Gray was delighted that a unique band continues to flourish.

"It’s a wonderful organisation that does remarkable charity work – and I’m delighted to be associated with them," he said.

"They rehearse once a month and do around five major charity fund raising events each year.

The players all buy into what they want to achieve and as a result we all have a great time – especially today! The victory was great, but really it’s secondary to the main aim of raising funds for charitable causes."

The players all buy into what they want to achieve and as a result we all have a great time – especially today! The victory was great, but really it’s secondary to the main aim of raising funds for charitable causesRussell Gray

Wonderful defence

Ransome put up a wonderful defence of their title, coming mighty close to retaining the re-union honours title with a programme inspired by MD Tom Davoren’s love of musical influences as diverse as the traditional sounds of his native Wales to blockbuster Hollywood films.

Paul Drury’s ‘Jubilee’ kicked proceedings off, before principal cornet Neil Day produced a lyrically compelling account of ‘Y Bore Glas’.

Sun Life return?

Philip Harper’s aptly titled ‘Reunion’, followed, written for the Sun Life Band (surely a candidate to reunite here in the future) and which was laced with subtly disguised quotes from ‘Le Roi d’Y’s’ — reflecting the Bristol band’s famous Open victory in 1990.

‘The Heat is On’ from the Eddie Murphy ‘Beverley Hills Cop’ film franchise made for an upbeat interlude, before Shostakovich’s ‘Festive Overture’ brought Ransome’s programme to a majestic conclusion.

Arrangements for City of Coventry

Under the direction of Ian Johnson, City of Coventry’s programme was made up of arrangements by former conductors Ray Farr and Stephen Shimwell.

‘Sabre Dance’, ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘Hoedown’ from Copland’s ballet ‘Rodeo’, ‘Shenandoah’ and the ‘Finale’ from Janacek’s ‘Sinfonietta’ was a fine reminder of a band that in its heyday claimed one of the most famous British Open victories of all time.

Simon Platford, more often these days associated with Desford Colliery Band, carried off the solo prize for his sensitive rendition of ‘Ave Maria’.

Glory days of Desford

For Desford, liberally sprinkled with faces from its 1980s glory days, including Ken Ferguson, Sarah Hatcher, Martyn ‘Fozzy’ Harris and Rupert Trippett, not surprisingly featured the music of James Watson and Howard Snell.

Led by Paul Cosh, the audience was taken back in time with ‘The Pines of Rome’, ‘The Champions’ march (their theme tune during the period of its famous succession of National Championship victories), ‘On With the Motley’ with John Belton on soprano cornet, and ‘Disney Fantasy’.

Moving

The most moving moment of the day however came with their tribute to James Watson in the form of Philip Littlemore’s glowing arrangement of ‘Sleep’ by Eric Whitacre. The lasting silence that followed the final sounds spoke volumes for the loss still felt for a musician who did so much for Desford and banding in general.

Nursed back

Once all the playing was over there will have been quite a few tired, previously retired lips being nursed back to health with a welcome pint of restorative amber nectar, but the abiding memory of a great event was the sense of renewed friendships and hazy memories (some perhaps deliberately so!)

Carole Crompton’s indefatigable organisation skills look set to inspire an event that has the potential to flourish further in years to come, with William Davis Construction Group and Jones & Crossland, both of which competed in the inaugural event in 2011, already having expressed a firm interest in competing once again next year.

Chris Thomas

Result:
Adjudicators: Alan Wycherley and Philip Sparke

1. Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mills (Russell Gray)
2. Ransome (Tom Davoren)

Other competitors: City of Coventry (Ian Johnson) & Desford Colliery (Paul Cosh)