Fairey band to light up the stage with B&R

Huddersfield Town Hall is the place to be on March 21 to hear Brighouse & Rastrick Band’s most frequent guests, The Fairey Band, alongside their hosts.
B&R and guests during their performance at Huddersfield Town HallB&R and guests during their performance at Huddersfield Town Hall
B&R and guests during their performance at Huddersfield Town Hall

First guesting at a Massed Bands concert as far back as 1947 (as Fairey Aviation Band) they have since played at an incredible thirty one concerts.

Founded in 1937 by workers at their Stockport factory, the original fourteen strong group solely performed in the works canteen for lunchtime entertainment. Before long, however, ambitions rose amongst the players and with the support of the company directors a full band was formed and public engagements undertaken.

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The masterstroke came as early as 1938 with the appointment as conductor of a certain Mr. Harry Mortimer, an established top cornet player looking for fresh challenges aged 36.

His rise to fame as an iconic conductor and, in time, as arguably the movement’s most legendary characters, took Fairey’s along the way to phenomenal success.

‘H. M’s’ association with the band spanned some thirty years and during that time he took to the rostrum at B & R’s Massed Bands concerts far more often than anyone else. As with ‘Brighouse’, stability has been the cornerstone of continued success and despite many company changes the Fairey name was never lost, nor their home base, these past seventy eight years.

Worthy North West Champions, matching B & R’s current Yorkshire title, it is no wonder the invitation to join them yet again at Huddersfield in March looks a sure winner - with music to match.

Tickets are available on February 14 at Ryecorn Wholefoods, Bethel St, Brighouse or online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/townhalls.

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