Silver band win in top national brass contest

They beat 18 other bands from around the country to win a silverware at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

The Crofton band made it to the finals in Cheltenham after winning Yorkshire regional heats in Bradford in March.

It was the firs time they had won a Section Winner’s prize in the national contest in Crofton Silver Band’s 141-year history.

Graham Firth, band secretary and soprano cornet, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the win.

“The band has put in an awful lot of hard work this year and this is just reward.

“But we are particularly pleased for our musical director Dean Jones.

“He has led us to heights we didn’t really expect to see and brought performances from us that we did not know we were capable of.”

Mr Jones, who teaches at Minsthorpe Community College, added: “I haven’t done this on my own.

“I have had massive commitment from the players.

“We have a really solid, exciting band sound and soloists that many other bands would love to have in their ranks.”

Contest judge Richard Marshall, principal cornet player with the world-renowned Black Dyke Band, described Crofton’s entry as “a really enjoyable performance throughout with a dramatic close”.

The band’s win in Cheltenham follows prizes at the Butlins Open Mineworkers’ contest and the Leicestershire Open.

Their next performance will be at Crofton Working Men’s Club, Shay Lane, at 7.30 on Friday, September 30.

Admission will cost a penny, with audience donations welcome on the way out.