history
A short history of Gresley Colliery Brass Band...
The origins of the band are unclear although it is believed to be around 1850. The first recorded mention of the band was in 1857 - Burton Weekly News - where the band was reported to have played at the Newhall Horticultarl Exhibitoion.
Several name changes have followed the band from then to now: Gresley Colliery Band, Gresley Colliery Silver Prize Band, Gresley Ambulance Band, Church Gresley Colliery Band, South Derbyshire Miners Welfare Band,Gresley Old Hall Band (until early 2006). The band, following a unanimous vote by members at the AGM in March 2006, decided to change the name to Gresley Colliery Band. This is to pay homage to our mining roots and alsokeep this awareness of miners - something very few brass bands do these days.
Whilst under the name of the Ambulance Band (and subsequently using the ambulance garage!), the band would often serenade an injured miner with a march or a hymn! Following nationalisation in the late 40s, the band moved rooms to the Miners Arms Public House and changed name to South Derbyshire Miners Welfare Band and when the colliery closed in 1968, the band moved to Gresley Old Hall and became the Gresley Old Hall Band.
From the mid 1970s, the band has enjoyed considerable success in competitions - steadily rising up the ranks to the First Section, where they currently compete. A very successful period for the band was during the 1990s when Alan Tyler took the Band from Third Section to First Section, winning the Area title in 1993 and qualifying for the Nationals that year and in 1998. The Band also won in Blackpool at the CISWO contest. The band have been regional champions and national finalists - most recently in 2003 where they finished a respectable 8th place under the Musical Directorship of David Hutchinson.
2006 saw the band moving forward, with some new faces and the sad departure of David Hutchinson (he's went to Spain!). Following a recruitment process which saw many good candidates for the role of MD, the band appointed Richard Grantham Musical Director in August 2006. Richard strengthened the band and along with several entertaining concerts, he prepared the band for the Butlins Mineworkers Finals in January 2007. Although the band played well, 10th place was awarded. With only a few weeks until the Area Championship, the band worked hard preparing the set piece. This effort paid off as the band were crowned First Section Midlands Champions in March 2007.
However, March 2007 saw the joy of the band winning their first Area for 14 years with the sad news that Richard Grantham would be leaving the band to move back to his native Yorkshire due to work relocation. Chris Smith, the Band's Solo Trombone player kindly took the band during the interim period and in June 2007, David Hirst was appointed as Musical Director.