Thornsett Band
appearing at
Hayfield Well Dressing
Hayfield, Derbyshire
14:00
This Gig is in the past, if you were there leave a review below
Description
Thornsett Band are a brass band based in the High Peak area of Derbyshire, UK. Thornsett Band, founded in 1895, is very much alive and well. They have gained a reputation as a youth brass band although players can be of any age. The main band practice on a Monday evening at the Thornsett Band hut in Thornsett. There is also a learner band that also meets on a Monday evening just before the main band.
The Thornsett Band was established in 1876. The band has had some good and bad times. In the 1930s, under the celebrated conductor William Halliwell, they enjoyed a period of excellence. Again in the 1960s under Bryan Taylor, they were revitalised and in 1967 they won the Junior Shield at Belle Vue.
Other major achievements include a third section national championship in 1974 and East Midlands second section championship in the 1980s.
It was later on in the 1980s that most of the experienced members left.
Thornsett Band thankfully didn’t go the same way as many of the other local band and kept going. The band then, as now, was run by Dave Ford and Matt Gee. They recruited local youngsters (and not so youngsters), started the ‘Learner Band’ as a feeder band to the main band. The Learner band still takes learners and teaches them. It is a fantastic opportunity for anyone to learn a instrument.
Description
Blessing at 2pm on the first Sunday, at Bank Street followed by Valley Road, the Cenotaph, Swallow House Lane & St John's.
The blessing of the water supply, in the form of a well is an ancient ceremony dating back to the Celts or even earlier.
It is only found in or near Derbyshire.
Well Dressing is the art of decorating springs or wells with pictures made of natural products.
Clay is pressed into boards, then the picture is traced onto the clay using a pointer. Then comes the delicate task of infilling with flower petals and other natural materials.
Each petal has to be put in separately and they overlap like tiles on a roof so that rain will flow off the picture. This process takes many hours and usually occupies most of the week prior to the well being dressed.
Brass Band
Various Locations,
Hayfield,
Derbyshire,
England,
SK22 2EP.
