The winner of the British Open Grand Shield contest at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool this year will take home a trophy that has benefited from some long overdue restoration work.

Over the years space to place the winning band's name on it has gradually run out — resulting in the famous trophy, which was first presented at the Crystal Palace contest in 1912, becoming littered with many misshapen mounts crammed onto its wood surround.

Generous help

However, with the generous help of 2015 champion Rothwell Temperance, and the expert restoration skills of Brecon based jeweller Nigel Matthews, 4BR was able to ensure that the trophy has undergone a face-lift and now bears the names of every winning band from 1912 to date — with room for at least 30 years of more.

New lease of life

4BR's Anthony Banwell is delighted that one of the banding world's iconic trophies has been given a new lease of life.

"We think it's important that the great trophies retain their original character as well as being able to be fit for purpose for many more years to come.

We first did this with the agreement of the British Open Championship organisers for the famous gold British Open Shield, and we are grateful to Martin and Karyn Mortimer for allowing us to do this again with the Grand Shield."

More visitors

He added: "Our thanks also go to Rothwell Temperance for their generous assistance in making this possible in time for the 2016 contest, and to Nigel Matthews for his expert skill. He told us his shop in Brecon has been getting plenty more visitors after he displayed it!"

4BR also took the opportunity to research the contest history to ensure that every winning band from 1912 was recorded. Every post Second World War winner up to 1999 is now inscribed on a silver plate on the back of the trophy, with the 21st century champions on two new silver mounts on the front.

Every post Second World War winner up to 1999 is now inscribed on a silver plate on the back of the trophy, with the 21st century champions on two new silver mounts on the front4BR

Not forgotten

4BR Editor Iwan Fox added: "It was interesting to research the contest winners and to find out the names of those missing. There are some great old bands and some more modern ones now that won't be forgotten."