The 'Brass Unlimited' initiative recently reported on 4BR has become a roaring success.

Love of brass banding

Set up three months ago in Astley, near Tyldesley by Helen and Samantha Minshall, and aimed at connecting up with adults with a love of brass banding who have time to spare in the day to enjoy playing music, it now attracts 25 players for its weekly rehearsal at a local church.

First performance

In fact, it has become such a success that the band has already given it first public performance, as Helen told 4BR.

"We wanted to make brass banding accessible to as many people as possible — especially those who had the time in the day to enjoy it. It's become a huge success.

We now have a euphonium player who has restarted playing after a break of 56 years and a trombone player who got his instrument of the loft after 40 years!"

We now have a euphonium player who has restarted playing after a break of 56 years and a trombone player who got his instrument of the loft after 40 years!Helen Minshall

New players

The band's first performance recently took place at St John's Church in Atherton and was a great success, with the aim now to continue to attract new players to the enjoyable weekly rehearsal.

Helen added: "We rehearse at St Stephen's Church in Astley from 12.00-1.00pm on a Monday and we offer a warm welcome to players of all standards, even complete beginners.

Membership costs £3 per week towards the rental of the venue and running costs and instruments are available to hire for £20 per term.

We had some set-up funding from the Wigan Council 'Deal for the Communities Fund' to get the project off the ground and we're certainly achieving that!"