Accrington Old Band
 

Alaistergee posted a question recently asking for information about Accrington Old Band. It was recommended that he start a thread in this section. It doesn't look like he has so I'm starting one as I'm interested in the same thing.

I'm researching the bands history in advance of the WW1 centenary next year when the East Lancs Concert Band (formerly Accrington Old Band) will be involved in various events remembering the Accrington Pals.

I have information from the years up to 1900 and from mid 70's but sadly lacking much from the years in between. I'm especially interested in 1900 to 1920, but also anyone who has memories or photos of the band under one of it's other names ( Accrington Military Band, Hyndburn Military Band etc)

Any information kindly received.

Nick

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

From a 1904 publication

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

This is from a bazaar handbook, which are great sources of information. However, I think that to do the job right, you need to look at the Accrington Observers in the library. 20 visits should do it. Find a pal to liase with.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

I am also involved in the upcoming centenary events relating to the formation of the Accrington Pals, Bill Turner and I started gathering material for the 100th anniversry when we packed up the displays from the 90th anniversary in 2006, sadly Bill died in 2007, but I have carried on. One thing I have noticed in the past few months, how many experts on World War 1, are now coming out of the wood work, as August 2014 gets nearer, good with the blather but very few facts. I am already in contact with Ian McGuiness re the Pals March and Accrington Old Band.
So I think we need to see some credentials, other wise your wasting your time.
Some people say I am too blunt in my replies, I am not a word smith, or a diplomat, and write as I think, and until I know them, they come across as glory hunters wanting to jump on the Pals band wagon, we already have a few, and some people are becoming wise to them, & they are being side lined.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

Thanks Hill Walker for that and thanks Bob for your advice. I already have plans to visit the Library with Ian McGuinness (mentioned by Retlaw) as we play in the East Lancs Concert Band together. Incidentally I'm the person who arranged the PALS march for modern concert band.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

Hi Retlaw, just to put your mind at rest I'm the principal trumpet with East Lancs concert band and I'm working closely with Ian McGuinness on preparations for concerts over the next 4 years. If you attended the PALS memorial chapel last April it was me who played the last post. I'm not trying to poach anything, step on anybody's toes or pose as something that I'm not. I'm simply trying to pull together as much as is known about the history of the band in order to help promote the band. I thought it might be a good idea to ask the good people of Accrington if anyone had any memories of the band (or any of its predecessors) over the years. Jim Savage (band secretary for many years) has kindly given me a lot of historical information and I'm hoping that when I've pulled everything together I'll be able to make available an interesting history of the band over many years.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

Excellent. The likelihood is that you will uncover much on the other bands/orchestras which have been active in the town. Keep in touch with John Simpson in the library. Also, likewise, the museum/heritage centre in the Arndale.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

Ok. the Accrington Old Band led the Pals on their first march around the town in September 1914, but for some reason did not go with them as the passed the town hall where the mayor was taking the salute, the Band waited for them in Church St.
One thing did disappoint the people of Accrington, the Band wasn't invited to play when the Pals marched to the station, when they left for Caernarvon
The first Pals Band was formed by using instruments borrowed from Bulloughs, it was a comic band, they blacked their faces, Lt/Colonel Rickman didn't like it but as it entertained the men he tolerated it until he formed a proper military band.
My grandfather and an uncle played in several local bands at various times before WW1, but they were mainly concertina bands, grandad had a variety of different sizes of concertina's. I still have my fathers.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

That's interesting about the concertinas, Retlaw. My partner plays the concertina and the melodeon and has acquired quite a few. A lot of folk have one tucked away somewhere. If you can spare a minute I'd love to know what make it is and is it normal size or one of the bigger ones. And do you know anything about the concertina bands in Accrington?
Many thanks.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

Its a Wheatstone 48 keys, in its case is a receipt from Wheatsone charging him 14 shill for repairs & that it was made in 1914, also the receipt for when he bought it off A. Ellison.
A Ellison was AKA Sandy Ellison who was at one time Accy Stanley Mascot.
As for the cocertina bands I've not much memory of them, before my father died I made a tape of him reminising about his younger days, his father & brothers & life in Accrington, trouble is I put it somewhere safe, so safe I don't know where it is.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

Thanks all. This is starting to get interesting. I may have to expand my history of the band around the early 1900's to include a more general history of bands in the area at that time - depends what I can unearth - but the existence of concertina bands is a start. Can I use your photo Retlaw if it's appropriate?

My brother-in-law played concertina for years with a sword dancing team called the "Hoghton Rappers". This is a very specialised form of country dance that uses double handed swords to form patterns. They don't wear clogs but ordinary shoes and have a sort of shuffling step a bit like a tap step where the sole of the shoe hits the ground to set up a rhythm. I wonder how prevalent concertina playing was in the area at the time. I tried dancing with them once but I'm not the shape, lol.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

Incidentally, all you Accy people, the East Lancs Concert Band has a concert coming up on 16th Nov at the Civic Arts Centre Oswaldtwistle. These concerts are often poorly attended which is a shame given the amount of work that the band puts in and the quality of the performances. It is a "comedy" theme with additional help from Les Bond performing some of his self-penned comedy songs and plenty of sing along audience participation. Feel free to bring along a bottle of wine (or two) to lubricate the vocal chords.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

On the Hyndburn Chat Facebook page ,someone is showing a photo purporting to have been taken after 1861. When was the Old band formed ? The photo was perhaps taken outside the Dunkenhalgh, which at that time was probably a private residence

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

No Bob I meant before 1861.
Sorry for any confusion.
Regards, Samuel.

Re: Accrington Old Band
 

The mistake is mine - you did say before 1861. I have doubts about the date of the photo being so early, but it would be good to know just when the band was formed.