Comments on: History

By: David Read

David Read — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:06:12 +0000

Iain

The book is called ‘Beyond the Box’ and was published in 2004.I believe that the band had a few books at one time but if you can’t get it from them, you can still get it from http://www.jagrins.com
I have to be fair to you that although I had a recollection of Benny rescuing his father, my friend Alec Garbett ( who also played in the band at that time) filled in the exact details for me. Incidentally, If you don’t already know, Benny is on the photograph of the band in the Picture Section of the Archives entitled Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Broadcasting Band 1952, he is on the front row third from the left.Your Grandad also played for a brief period with Alex Mortimer and the CWS Manchester Band also Creswell Colliery Band and Grimethorpe.If you do get the book you will read an amusing story of how Benny supported we younger members of the band in our quest to be paid the same money for broadcasts as the older members, they were getting 18 shillings we were getting 9 shillings( 90p and 45p in todays money!)Without Benny we would not have got it!

David Read

By: Iain Lowery

Iain Lowery — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:48:17 +0000

David,

Thanks for your reply. Some great stories there. Where can i find your book?

By: David Read

David Read — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:53:22 +0000

Iain

I refer to your grandfather Benny a number of times in my book. I can tell you that at the time,Benny Lowery was one of the finest Euphonium players in the country, you need not take my word for it, it is also the view of Geof. Whitaham who knows a thing or two about euphonium playing!
Apart from being a brilliant Euphonium player he was a perfect gentleman and a nicer person you could not wish to meet. One of the most abiding memories I have of Benny is of him standing up in the beautiful Flower Hall in Aalsmeer Holland in 1949 and playing ‘Facilita,’ he received a standing ovation which lasted several minutes and then received a bouquet of flowers from someone in the audience. Benny used to do weight training in the bandroom ,this training came in handy because one day his father Ralph became trapped in an underground fall and he was able physically to pick up a steel ring that was pinning him down(the sort that holds up the roof on the main underground roads)this enabled his father to be released. What a man!

David Read

By: Ian Pearce

Ian Pearce — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:18:59 +0000

Hello,

Just saw your website and an entry stating that you were Europeran Champions in 60’s…well, I was a member of Grimethorpe during mid-70’s and from time to time I would be invited to help you out on percussion as percussionists were a rare breed in those days…and, I went on the Belgium/Germany tour with CMFCB in 1975…during which the band played at the European Championships in Belgium taking First Place…conducted by Bobby Oughton…then went on to tour the Essen/Mulheim region of Germany as guests of the Thyssen Mining Group who were involved in talks with the NCB over new contracts…we were the ‘cultural’ ambassadors that week…hope this info is useful…regards,

Ian.

By: Iain Lowery

Iain Lowery — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:42:18 +0000

Hi, just wanted to know if anyone else had any stories of my grandfather Benny Lowery? I saw on a differant site that someone had named him as one of their favorite players. Nice to know he’s still being talked about.

By: Steve Butler

Steve Butler — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:42:50 +0000

Hi, just wondering if you could help me locate Colin Outhwaite. I played with the band (EEb bass) for about 6 months back in 1968 (i think), Colin and I joined together but Colin stayed longer than me (I was only 15 and travelling from Boroughbridge which became too much hassle for my Dad). I know Colin had a second spell with the band more recently as I bumped into him and Ray Sykes at the area when you Blitzed it!
I did dep with the band again a few years ago when Roger Webster was guest soloist, it was quite a stressful night as the other EEb player was also a dep!!

By: Paul Smith

Paul Smith — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:57:57 +0000

I was fortunate to be taught cornet by Tommy Mudd from 1962 and joined Frickley in late 1962. I left the band in September 1965 to join the Regimental Band of the Scots Guards at Pirbright in the Junior Musicians wing.
When I joined the band Jimmy Shepherd was the principal, he went to the Dyke and the principal was Irvin Vaines who was a very underestimated player with a superb tone.
Pricipal horn was Roy Brown, principal euph Ian Craddock, sop was Ray Sykes, principal trombone Frank Wesson, bass trombone Lawrie Mann.
In the 3 years that I stumbled through, I was the worst but learned a lot. I used to get to band early so I could listen to Jimmy putting Ray Sykes, Fred Ellis and Johnny Blount through their paces.
My first contest was the area playing Rienzi, sweat is not the word for it and Belle Vue what can I say. You came onto the stage to be surrounded by hundreds of pairs of beady eyes waiting for that mistake, unbelievable an era that can never be repeated.

By: Keith Lever

Keith Lever — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 01:57:42 +0000

Walter, why not try Keith Quinn, a mate of mine, he may have it, his website is www,euph9.freeserve.co.uk/quinn.htm He has worked wonders for me in the passed getting ‘UNAVAILABLE’ recordings. GOOD LUCK KEITH.

By: Walter Adamson

Walter Adamson — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:09:26 +0000

That’s the one does anybody know where i can get a copy.

By: Keith LEVER

Keith LEVER — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:39:50 +0000

Walter, Are you thinking of the Tony Capstick single that was done in 1981, on Dingles Records SID27, the titles being:- THE SHEFFIELD GRINDER and CAPSTICK COMES HOME. It came into the ‘CHARTS’ on the 21st March 1981 at 54, on the 28th March it was 10th, on the 4th April it reached 4th, 3rd, on the 11th April then it dropped to 6th, on the 18th April it slumped to 17th, on the 25th April it dropped down even further to 24th then went out of the ‘charts’ altogether. I maybe 65 but my memory is still good ask my old mate Ray Sykes !!!!!!!!